COMMONWEALTH Healthcare Corp. Chief Executive Officer Esther L. Muna on Friday said reinforcements have arrived to help the CNMI’s lone hospital in its Covid-19 response.
She said additional support teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will help with the monoclonal antibody testing and vaccinations.
Stephanie Kern-Allely, regional communicable disease epidemiologist of the Pacific Islands Health Officers Association, is no longer on island but will return, Muna said.
Meantime, the CNMI needs an epidemiologist to analyze the data collected from contact tracing, hence the arrival of epidemiology support from the CDC.
HHS nurses with National Disaster Medical Assistance Team will also assist the CNMI, Muna said.
She earlier said that the rising number of positive community cases and hospitalizations was taking a toll on the healthcare system.
CHCC operates the CNMI’s sole hospital, emergency department, several outpatient clinics, a dialysis unit, ancillary services, behavioral health services, and all public health functions, including the islands’ Covid-19 response, such as Covid-19 testing, contact tracing, and mental health services.
Esther Muna
