Business View Caribbean | October 2020

30 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN OCTOBER 2020 communities than others? Lamm: “There are different socio-economic levels and the rate that persons move around depends on the needs they have. Some need to be out to make a living. Since the onset of COVID, especially in this region, it is difficult because Jamaica is tourism-dependent; it is our number-one foreign exchange earner, more specifically, along the north coast belt. And the three parishes that are part of NERHA are all along the north coast belt where persons predominately work within the tourism sector, working on cruise lines, or in farming – as part of the Farm Work Program where they work on farms overseas to make a living. And now the ability to travel has been seriously restricted. “So, in this region, persons are at a distinct disadvantage due to loss of income. It also affects our health care workers because in almost every household of our employees, someone has been disenfranchised by virtue of losing their job in the tourism sector, whether directly or indirectly, or their hours have been significantly cut.” BVC: What resources are available to help health care workers cope with the mental health aspects of being on the front lines? Lamm: “We have to take care of ourselves before we can help others, and so the Ministry of Health and Wellness has launched the Staff Welfare Program across the health sector. It is geared at ensuring that we pay particular attention to our own staff, so they can go out and sensitize other persons. The program is very detailed: it includes providing psychosocial support for health care workers dealing with depression as they go through changes within their households and personal changes in dealing with COVID. “People call it ‘the new norm’ but it’s a whole different dynamic that we all have to learn to deal with. Mental health has come to the forefront with all of the uncertainty and the Miss Fabia M Lamm, JP, Regional Director; NERHA