Mauritius News

The Republic of Mauritius is an island state in the Indian ocean with a population in 2019 of over 1.2 million . Mauritius is a highly acclaimed tourist destination with over 1.3 million tourists recorded that same year. The island records a high population density of 626 people per Km2 and the highest proportion of elderly (population aged 65+) in sub Saharan Africa, whom accounts for 12% of the population in 2019, on a continent where average is 3%.This combined with a high prevalence of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) , Mauritius was considered among the countries in the African Region the most at risk of a public health disaster due to COVID-19 . Indeed, COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the virus SARS-COV2 which affects all populations but more severely the elderly and people living with NCDs, causing increased mortality in these populations . A year into the pandemic, Mauritius is defeating pessimistic prognosis and the handling of the pandemic is lauded by the international community . The outbreak was contained on the 26 April 2020 after 39 days with no locally transmitted cases, however in November 2020 two other community cases were reported. Since 26 November 2020, only imported cases are reported in the island.

Mauritius, despite being COVID-safe, kick started its COVID-19 vaccination training for health workers as part of its national COVID-19 response. A five half-day training programme was launched by the Dr Hon Kailesh Kumar Singh Jagutpal, Minister of Health and Wellness on 11 January 2021 at the Ministry’s Health Club room, Port Louis, in the presence of high level officials of the Ministry, including Health Directors, Regional Public Health Superintendents and Dr Laurent Musango, WHO Representative in Mauritius.

The Minister of Health and Wellness inaugurated the Virtual Training Laboratory and launched the training of Nurses on NCD Prevention and Control on 03 December 2020 in the presence of the WHO Representative in Mauritius, Dr Laurent Musango and the high- level officials of the Ministry.   The close collaboration of WHO in setting up this virtual platform for continuous capacity building of the health personnel was duly recognized by Dr Hon Kailash Kumar Jagutpal, Minister of Health and Wellness. “The Health Sector is evolving and dynamic.  It is a sector which is now and then confronted with new disease, new treatment protocol and best practices and we have to always keep abreast with latest development taking place,” said Dr Hon K. K. Jagutpal. The Health Minister explained how COVID-19 impacted on exchange programmes and the challenges faced by the Ministry including identification of venue and travel restrictions which made it impossible to get experts from abroad.  He further added that, “the virtual mode, though not a new concept has become importance with the ongoing pandemic. The e-platform was used for e-briefing and during e-working sessions and this new experience brought multi benefits including reduction in implementing cost.”

Members and patrons of Public and Private School Health Clubs were sensitized on prevention and control of COVID-19 from 03 to 09 November 2020 in the four educational zones. This activity was organized by the Ministry of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the World Health Organization with the support of the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. Evidence-based information and facts about COVID-19 were shared to the trainees to help reducing the students’ fears and anxieties around the disease and support their ability to cope with any secondary impacts in their lives.   It was also an opportunity to build the capacity of the school health clubs members and patrons to strengthen their knowledge and skills on basic microbiology, COVID-19, Infection Prevention and Control , standard precautions regarding hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene, the concept of social distancing and the importance of wearing Personal Protection Equipment including face mask, face shield, gloves and goggles. 

The contribution of the nurses in the prevention and control of diabetes was highly recognized during the commemoration of the World Diabetes Day on 16 November 2020 at the Ebene Business Park of Mauritius.   Dr Hon Kailesh Kumar Singh Jagutpal, Minister of Health and Wellness acknowledged the vital role of the nurses who represent more than fifty percent of the total health workforce in the country and worldwide. It was a great opportunity to pay tribute to the nurses who are at the forefront of the public health care system with this year theme “The Nurses and Diabetes”.  “Unfortunately, the number of diabetic cases is continuously increasing across the globe.  We are aware that more emphasis should be laid on prevention of diabetes and sensitization of all Mauritians on the risk factors so that we can prevent diabetes”, said Dr Hon. K.K. Jagutpal, Minister of Health and Wellness. “One out of two persons living with diabetes does not even know that he or she is diabetic, and this is a matter of concern as we know the complications that are associated with diabetes”, said the Health Minister.

One of the severe consequences of diabetes complications is the risk of lower limb amputation. Damaged nerves or reduced blood flow to the feet can cause ulcers that may become infected, and in severe cases get partially or severely gangrened. In Mauritius, around 500 amputations are carried out every year, but 85% of them are preventable.

A Training of Trainers on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and Case Management post COVID-19 is being conducted from 12 to 16 October 2020 at Labourdonnais Waterfront Hotel, Mauritius to strengthen capacity of health workers who are fighting COVID-19 at the forefront. WHO has successfully mobilised additional funding through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) and European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), European Commission in view of supporting the Ministry in strengthening  the IPC measures to prevent COVID-19 across community based, primary health care and educational institutions.  The training workshop was declared open by the Director Health Services, Dr Mariam Timol of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, in the presence of technical officers of the Communication Diseases Control Unit and high officials from the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr Laurent Musango, WHO Representative in Mauritius and the technical staff of the WHO country office and some 30 trainers.

The World Mental Health Day 2020 was marked on 08 October 2020 at the New Psychiatric Hospital in Beau Bassin, Mauritius during an official launching of activities by the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Kailash Kumar Jagutpal in the presence of the high level officials of the Ministry, Dr Ameenah Sofeeran, Consultant Psychiatry, Dr Laurent Musango, WHO Representative in Mauritius and others. The different speakers advocated for increased financing for mental health and well-being in line with this year’s theme “Move for Mental Health: Let’s Invest”. Dr K. K. Jagutpal, Minister of Health and Wellness during his address, said that the country has made significant progress in improving and decentralizing mental health services. He added, “we need to keep on improving mental health services. We will ensure that the national health sector strategic plan 2020-2024 which comprises a strategic objective on mental health is implemented successfully to attain our objectives."

A series of activities was launched at the Cardiac Centre, Pamplemousses on 29 September 2020 to mark the World Heart Day in Mauritius. Eminent personalities attended the event including , Dr Kailash Kumar Jagutpal, Minister of Health and Wellness, Mr Sudesh Kumar Kallichurn, Minister of Labour, Human Resource Development and Training, Dr Laurent Musango, WHO Representative in Mauritius, Dr Sunil Gunness, Cardiologist and Head of the Cardiac Centre, Dr S. Ramen, Director General Health Services, Directors of the five regional hospitals and high officials of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, among others. Dr K. k. Jagutpal, during his speech, highlighted the increasing number of people suffering from heart diseases with the ageing of the population and the NCD epidemic faced by the country since the past decades. According to the Health Minister, “more than 3000 deaths were due to heart diseases in 2019 while 19,500 patients were admitted in the different cardiology units of the regional hospitals for cardiac treatment. In addition, 4790 angiographies and 997 cardiac surgeries were conducted”.