From left: Dr. Paul Schats, his wife, and nurse Patrick Nomden demonstrating social distancing after arriving at F.D. Roosevelt Airport on an EZ Air aircraft.
ST. EUSTATIUS--Medical staff arrived at F.D. Roosevelt Airport in Statia on Tuesday night on board an EZ Air aircraft.
The medical staff includes Dr. Paul Schats Jr., his wife, and nurse Patrick Nomden who were recruited from the Netherlands to work on the island at the soon-to-be-opened Hospitainer, which will increase Statia’s medical capacity.
With the Hospitainer nearing completion, the Public Health Department, which is responsible for the island’s public health together with the other stakeholders, is working on a protocol on how to cooperate with regard to the Hospitainer and the medical centre. From there decisions will be made on the medical equipment, the appropriate amount of personal protective equipment (PPE), masks, and other items.
Dr. Schats and Nurse Nomden are not strangers to the island. Dr. Schaats is the son of Dr. Paul Schats Sr., who was the former doctor at Queen Beatrix Medical Centre (QMBC) for many years.
Nurse Nomden worked at QMBC as early as 2019 and assisted with the first baby born in 2019. Nomden said he fell in love with the island and was sad to leave when his contract was over.
After arriving on the island, all of the medical staff were placed into quarantine.
