Health Minister, Dr. Fenton Ferguson is appealing for calm after protesters set fire to an ambulance and damaged a building on the compound of the Savanna-La-Mar General Hospital in Westmoreland.

Minister of Health, Dr Fenton Ferguson

This followed an incident in which two people were shot and killed last evening (August 14, 2015).

In a statement, Dr Ferguson says he is being kept abreast of the situation by the board and management of the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), under whose management the hospital falls.

The hospital is now offering limited service in its accident and emergency department as staff has been affected by the unrest.

While expressing condolences to the family of those killed, Dr. Ferguson is urging community members to allow health workers to go about their normal duties so that they can continue to assist those in need of care.

He says health staff should not be in fear of their safety from the very people they have committed their lives to help.

Additionally, the Health Minister says the hospital property, tools and equipment, which are needed to save lives, should be respected.

He says he has authorised the Chairman of the Board of WRHA to put in place special transportation arrangements for staff during this special period.

Dr. Ferguson says he will be having dialogue with the Minister of National Security to ensure that the security of the hospital and staff is enhanced.

He is encouraging people who may have witnessed the incident to give their full cooperation to the investigators.

The Health Minister is also thanking the Jamaica Fire Brigade for its swift response in putting out the fire and therefore preventing damage to other property at the hospital.