Jamaica stepped up its preparedness under the multi-agency comprehensive Ebola Contingency Action Plan....Valued at approximately US$300 each, Jamaica has received commitments for approximately 20 of the handheld machines

Thanks To Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller's husband, Errald Miller, workers at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston breathed a little easier yesterday, as Jamaica stepped up its preparedness under the multi-agency comprehensive Ebola Contingency Action Plan.

Dr Marion Bullock-DuCasse, acting chief medical officer, tests
 a handheld temperature machine on a man while Beverly Creary (right),
 public health nurse, and nurse Sheryl Haynes (white blouse),
 look on, at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston
yesterday. -Rudolph Brown/Photographer

The workers yesterday received four of the first set of handheld laser temperature machines Miller donated to assist with screening of arriving passengers. The machines will be coupled with training to help airport workers deal with any suspected cases of the Ebola virus which may come to our shores.

Valued at approximately US$300 each, Jamaica has received commitments for approximately 20 of the handheld machines from other private donors to be shared among all ports of entry. These will be in place within two weeks.

The country has also received commitment from a private company for at least one walk-through temperature scanner. The scanners will be used at the high traffic ports of entry.

"There is good indication from one corporate entity that they would contribute one of the walk-through scanners and we are continuing to talk to other corporate entities. These will be used at the ports that have very high volume, like the cruise ship pier in Falmouth, where you have over 5,000 persons coming in," said minister of health, Dr Fenton Ferguson, at a press conference held at the airport following the handing over of the handhelds. more