Equip our medical technologists

THE EDITOR, Madam:

IT IS self-evident that the world economy will be brought to its knees if we cannot curb the rapid dispersion of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 100 countries have tasted the wrath of this demonic malady, and it continues to penetrate the borders of other nations.

A major factor in this rapid dispersion is ill-equipped medical laboratories, which results in delayed confirmations of the coronavirus. Regardless of the planning and preparation done in the health ministry, very little was done at the laboratory level.

The unseen profession of medical technologists plays an essential role in the control of any pandemic. They are the ones, via molecular diagnostic testing, who make the confirmation that the coronavirus is present in blood samples collected from patients. Hence, the intent of this written outburst is for more attention to be placed on the role of the medical laboratory in the warfare against this microbe.

Although the coronavirus outbreak is not a death sentence, it is an example of how small things (microorganisms) can impact big things (world economies). No matter how small and irrelevant the medical laboratory might seem to the public, it has a big impact on whether we win this war against COVID-19.

Some ways the health ministry can assist the medical laboratories in Jamaica include:

1. Training programmes to equip medical technologists with the expertise needed to deal with COVID-19 cases;

2.Providing all medical laboratories islandwide with the necessary personal protective equipment in case all hospitals have to be used to quarantine COVID-19 patients;

3. Supplying adequate amounts of test kits and reagents to all medical laboratories.

These strategies highlighted does not guarantee Jamaica a victory in this debacle, but it could minimise the amounts of deaths and prevent an economic shutdown.

GAVIN OMAR DIXON Medical technologist