IN JAMAICA: 600-plus flock hospitals, health centres in wake of latest Riverton blaze....GSAT schedule likely to be affected by Riverton smoke...The Ministery of education reported, meanwhile, that at least 10 students in each of the approximately 50 schools that were closed in Kingston and St Andrew, as well as St Catherine had to be sent to a clinic for treatment. "The number of GSAT students likely to be affected is over 11,500 and we have just over 39,000 students in total sitting the GSAT exam.

BY KIMBERLEY HIBBERT Observer staff reporter hibbertk@jamaicaobserver.com  Monday, March 16, 2015    

MORE than 600 people complaining of respiratory illnesses sought medical attention at public hospitals and health centres in the Kingston Metropolitan Region over the weekend, according to figures released by the Ministry of Health yesterday.

A group of women make their way along Weymouth Crescent
 in the vicinity of the Riverton landfill after the early closure of business
 due to the smoke nuisance across the city on Friday.
(PHOTO: LIONEL ROOKWOOD)

According to acting chief medical officer Dr Marion Bullock Ducasse, on Friday, March 13, health facilities in Kingston and St Andrew, as well as the Spanish Town Hospital and the neighbouring St Jago Park Health Centre saw a total of 345 people who were experiencing respiratory conditions, which based on their complaints, was as a result of the smoke being belched from the Riverton landfill.

She added: "On Saturday, March 14, 233 visits were made to our facilities... There were two admissions -- two at the national Chest Hospital and two at the Kingston Public Hospital. The National Chest Hospital was opened on Saturday and continues to work on a 24-hour basis. Today, [March 15] up to midday at our health facilities...teams have already treated 64 persons and this totals 642 visits."

She said the ministry took the decision to open five health centres -- four in Kingston and St Andrew and one in Spanish Town -- on the weekend to allow easy access to persons who required health care as a result of the worsening conditions. Bullock-Ducasse was speaking at a press briefing to provide an update on the Riverton fire which has been burning since Wednesday afternoon, and which forced businesses and schools in the vicinity to shutter their operations on Friday.

The Ministery of education reported, meanwhile, that at least 10 students in each of the approximately 50 schools that were closed in Kingston and St Andrew, as well as St Catherine had to be sent to a clinic for treatment. more