Health Promotion and Education Officer at the Westmoreland Health Department, Gerald Miller, says that the COVID-19 intervention programme which targeted taxi operators in the parish is still making an impact a year later after its implementation.
Mr. Miller says in a research done by the Ministry of Health and Wellness persons who are commuting, are two or three times more likely to be infected with the COVID-19 virus than someone in a household. He noted that it was this finding that created the push for the initiative, as taxi operators also fell in this group.
According to Mr. Miller, the health department carried out a survey to determine if the taxi operators were observing the COVID-19 protocols.
“We did interviews, collected the data, analysed it, and we used it to inform strategies in relation to the taxi men,” he noted.
Miller noted that a key finding from the Ministry’s research was that taxi operators were aware of the importance of following the COVID-19 protocols. However, he said some of the operators are having issues with mask-wearing compliance from their passengers.
He noted that operators that traverse the Negril, Whitehouse, Grange Hill, Savanna – la- Mar, Darliston, and Bethel Town routes in the parish, participated in sensitization sessions which were held as part of the intervention.
The sessions focused on regular cleaning and sanitisation of vehicles, the wearing of masks, sanitising hands, among other measures. The Westmoreland drivers were issued badges detailing the COVID-19 protocols, which are on display for passengers to see in their vehicle.
