Government is seeking to implement measures to ensure that Barbados??? health sector is equipped to deal with diseases like the Ebola virus and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

And, according to Minister of Health, John Boyce, it must move with some alacrity on such pre-emptive measures so as to create the necessary facilities, in case this country is ever faced with such illnesses.

Mr. Boyce made this disclosure during a courtesy call on Wednesday with Brazil???s Ambassador to Barbados, Luiz Gilberto Seixas de Andrade, at his Culloden Road office.

The Minister also gave a brief overview of the health sector in Barbados, including the measures put in place to address non-communicable diseases, as well as the progress made in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

???We have achieved the Millennium Development Goals in this area; mother-to-child transmission has been at zero for a while; we provide the necessary drugs to patients and there is also a food bank,??? Mr. Boyce explained, noting that there was also work being done to reduce and eliminate stigma and discrimination.

The Health Minister and the Ambassador also discussed ways in which Brazil and this country could improve on trade opportunities and create new ones. Mr. de Andrade added that there were postgraduate opportunities being offered through the Brazilian Embassy, which Barbadians could utilise to further their education.

Barbados and Brazil established diplomatic relations in 1971.

kim.ramsay-moore@barbados.gov.bb

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