By ERWIN CHLANDA
Up to 20 people under COVID-19 measures in Alice Springs will be accommodated at the Central Australian Aboriginal Alcohol Programmes Unit (CAAAPU), according to independent MLA for Araluen Robyn Lambley.
She says a document leaked to her says that part of the campus can be used “for isolation of patients that are Phase 1 Suspect and Phase 2 Confirmed”.
Ms Lambley says local residents at Ross Highway and Ragonesi Road, the location of the facility, have not been consulted nor told exactly what safety precautions would be in place.
“Absconding was a major problem for this mandatory alcohol program.
“Will people be absconding from this facility again?” she asks.
Access the facility, apparently opened yesterday, will be from Ross Highway.
We are seeking comment from SecureNT.
Meanwhile, it says 2,131 people have been tested for the virus but not where.
ARCHIVE PHOTO: Accommodation buildings in the grounds.
AMENDMENT April 2, 4pm
Ms Lambley is not an independent MLA. She is a member of the Territory Alliance.
UPDATE April 3, 11.15am
The Member for Namatjira, Chansey Paech, says he has spoken to residents in the area and conveyed their concerns to the government.
Saturday, April 20, 2024
The freedom of the press still furnishes that check upon government which no constitution has ever been able to provide – Chicago Tribune.
Noticed that this morning. Lots of dongas now visible from Ross Highway. They will need plenty of personnel to lock that place down.
Alcohol rehab being used as an isolation facility!
Why has an alcohol rehab facility been chosen?
Do they have nursing staff based at the site?
Are they a medical facility?
I am pretty certain that there are not enough alcohol rehab beds available in the area now and this will only exacerbate an existing problem.
Where are the people needing rehab going to?
Even if the NTG manage that bit, what about the fact that we already have a major alcohol crisis in the NT and now that CAAAPU have shut the rehab beds what will the fallout be!
What a disgrace.
Maybe the government is about to shut the bottle shops too, so no more grog.
How will our hospital and the residents deal with the alcohol withdrawal, I hope they (NTG) have plenty of spare beds and police.
Don’t bring them here. Take them to one of their own communities. We don’t need them spitting on the ground here.
@ Dean Marsland: Who are they?
Of a priority must also be the health and welfare of the staff and clients (or residents) of the CAAAPU alcohol rehabilitation program.
We know that most people requiring alcohol rehabilitation in Central Australia are sick with a range of chronic and infectious diseases. They are vulnerable people.
What measures have been put in place to completely separate the alcohol rehabilitation program from the CV19 quarantine facility?
It is not too late for the Central Australia Health Service to properly inform the public.