Political Leader of the United Progressive Party, Harold Lovell is making an earnest plea for
government to adequately compensate the country’s nurses and other frontline personnel, for
the sacrificial work they are doing to care for those who have been affected by Covid-19.
In a press release,Lovell noted that, at great sacrifice to themselves and their families, these workers are
exposing their lives and placing themselves at great risk, and therefore the nation owes them
a debt of gratitude.
He is calling on government to show its appreciation and to make a clear statement on
exactly how this will be done. The political leader is suggesting that government make clear
arrangements with the representative of the nurses to offer compensation in the form of
incentive pay or bonus pay.
He said that in the face of severe shortage of resources, including masks, nurses are working
overtime, and beyond the call of duty and this compensation would send the psychological
comfort that they are appreciated.
While underscoring the need for compensation for health personnel, the political leader
lamented the lack of a National Response Plan to address the pandemic. He pointed to the
fact that the WHO has set out a number of templates that government could use and there is
no need to reinvent the wheel.
“Where is the plan? Where is the budget? What are we working with? Lovell queried.
Such a plan would set out responses based on scenarios, according to Lovell, and the
country would be able to gauge whether its at Level one or Level four.
Using the current community transmission rates, the political leader said the country should
be able to calculate the anticipated rate of infection. The number of masks needed to protect
the population would not be an arbitrary figure, either, he explained. The national plan would
also include a public education training in how to use masks, and other public service
announcements.
In the matter of planning for hand washing and cleaning, vitally important to combat the virus,
Lovell said access to water is key. He is suggesting that the closure of hotels and schools
means there is more of the commodity around and this should be channelled to the
communities, where storage should be provided.
In the meantime, he is again stressing the need for people to adhere to strict quarantine for
the period stipulated and the other protocols outlined by medical professionals.