BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FOLLOWING the passage of Hurricane Irma and the impending threat from Jose, Dr. Terrance Drew is warning citizen and residents of the Federation to be mindful of ailments and physiological effects.
According to the medical practitioner, as it is with any natural disaster, many health concerns could or likely to develop during a hurricane.
Speaking with SKNVibes News today (Sept. 8), Drew explained that the impact on households from major storms such as Jose and Irma could be tremendous.
He said many people could be exposed to injuries and physiological stress, leading to increases in blood pressure (hypertension), heart attack, stroke and regulation of diabetes, among other ailments.
Depending on what happens after the storm, Dr. Drew stated that many people could suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety.
“Additionally, it can cause an increase in diseases because there might not be running water to practice good hygiene. Also with the water settling, this can to where mosquitoes can breathe and help to spread diseases.”
Further, Dr. Drew, who is a specialist in Internal Medicine, stressed that another point of concern is the cluster of people in shelters, which could lead to the spread of airborne diseases.
“When people are clustered together you can have respiratory diseases, such as upper respiratory tract infections that can spread from person to person. And so these are the risk that people can suffer during times like these.”
He is encouraging individuals to communicate with each others in order to get physiological support – through friends, family or persons in the community.
Further, Drew wants the community to bond together to create a sense of security for everyone within – which would noted would help in difficult times.
The MD stressed that “we should be our brother’s keeper” and ensure that the elderly are taken care of, aa well as those who are sick have their medications and take them on time.
“I am reminding persons to ensure that they get rid of stagnant water after the storm, so that, there wouldn’t be any breathing of the mosquitoes; and also to remain clean, especially when there is no water when the storm has passed.”
Since the passage of Hurricane Irma, the practitioner disclosed that he was not visited by anyone with a storm-related ailment.
He however pointed out that it might take several days before cases begin to pop up around the Federation.
