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More training exercises to enhance CHCC response
The recently held three-day pandemic emergency exercise that saw the distribution of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies and concluded with a comprehensive discussion last Friday contributed to the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.’s needed training.
According to CHCC Public Health-Hospital Emergency Preparedness Program director Warren Villagomez, CHCC will be continuing the exercises more often to enhance local capabilities in responding to a virus outbreak.
Villagomez said that this is not the end of the exercise because CHCC will continue to provide these exercises and continue to make the CNMI safer in case of an emergency like a pandemic influenza.
In an interview with CHCC CEO Esther Muña last Friday, she said the training was successful and that it was necessary to do this so they could make the CNMI a better place and protect the public’s health and safety overall.
“It went great and we discussed a lot of necessary things that needed to be addressed,” Muña said.
Tara Brown, project officer of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Division of State and Local Readiness-Office of Public Health and Preparedness and Response, said she was glad to work with the various stakeholders that contributed to the exercise.
“In the event of a disaster, noting mistakes and what is needed is why exercises are conducted. You want to identify and know your gaps in the process of the exercise. That way, addressing the problems would be much easier in future exercises,” Brown said.
The exercise started on Feb. 3 and ended Feb. 5, with simulations on transporting pharmaceutical and medical supplies to CHCC’s medical storage, distributing it to Rota and Tinian, and a “point of dispersion” to patients who need help.
On Feb. 6, all participants met to discuss the gaps identified and future trainings needed.
