Nadisha Hunter, Staff Reporter

THE SOUTH East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) is carrying out assessment of a number of facilities which were damaged by Hurricane Sandy.

Chairman of SERHA, Lyttleton Shirley, said while both health centres and hospitals have been affected, the damage would not impact the daily operations of the facilities.

"Assessment is now ongoing. After that, we will be reporting it to the Ministry of Health, which will then guide us as to how we will be able to do our budget to facilitate those repairs," he told The Gleaner in an interview.

He added that the hospitals impacted by the hurricane would be given priority.

Alluding to the patient overload during the period, Shirley said the staff was able to manage the challenges throughout the period.

"I think we have managed it well. We were very much understanding of the challenges that we would have to face and then we would also prepare for any eventuality. The disaster-preparedness mode was very much in place and the necessary institutions did as much as possible to cope," he said.

In a release yesterday, the Ministry of Health indicated that all hospitals have resumed full operations with the exception of the Annotto Bay Hospital in St Mary and the Port Antonio Hospital in Portland.

The ministry said the Annotto Bay Hospital is offering emergency services only, while the Port Antonio Hospital is offering out-patient and emergency services.