SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine: A CHRONIC shortage of water and a leaking roof at the maternity ward of the Spanish Town Hospital are problems facing the institution following the passing of Hurricane Ivan.

When The Gleaner visited the hospital on Sunday, several members of staff were involved in clean-up activities. Pauline Reid, chief executive officer at the hospital, said that there was also flooding on the grounds of the facility. She said persons going to the maternity ward had to be shuttled by a special high ambulance, and that the leaking roof resulted in post-natal and ante-natal patients being transferred to other sections of the building.

"Our post-natal ward is still flooded and we have no water. We have adequate supplies until this morning" she said.

Although many patients had been sent home prior to the hurricane hitting the island, Ms. Reid explained that 50 per cent of the 200 who remained were maternity patients. Some 30 babies were delivered at the facility over the past four days.

There is an adequate supply of food and medicines at the hospital, according to the CEO, and to date, two cases of persons sustaining injuries as a result of the hurricane, have been seen. In one instance, a man fell from the top of his house and has been hospitalised, and another man's house collapsed on top of him.

­ Robert Turner

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