The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) has launched TTWiFi at the San Fernando Teaching Hospital.
Patients, visitors, and staff at the hospital can now remain connected to the World Wide Web following the launch of this latest TTWiFi hub.
TATT Chairman Chris Seecheran said, “TTWiFi is currently active at the Level 4 waiting area, the pharmacy, the Level 6 respiratory care waiting area, the Level 8 waiting area, and the maternal and child health and paediatrics department.”
Minister in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Rishad Seecheran, said healthcare professionals will also be able to use the Wi-Fi connectivity for telemedicine, remote consultations, continuous professional development, and inter-facility communication in real time.
“Moreover, patients rely on the internet for information on diseases, preventative care, medication management, and updates on health campaigns, but I would advise them not to rely too much on medication management. We have too many patients that are Google doctors.”
Minister of Education and Member of Parliament for San Fernando West, Dr. Michael Dowlath, agreed the free Wi-Fi is particularly beneficial to relatives of patients. He also mentioned the work being done at the nation’s schools.
“In all of our 434 Primary Schools and 125 Secondary Schools in Trinidad and nine Secondary Schools in Tobago, broadband Wi-Fi, I think we’re looking at about 500 megabytes per second download to 50 upload, so that it will align with our initiative led by the Honourable Kamala Persad-Bissessar of the laptop, as we call it, the Laptop 2.0. And we recognise that the TTWiFi programme is built on a vision, a vision of connectivity of all our citizens in Trinidad and Tobago.”
TT Wifi was also recently launched at the Tabaquite Health Centre.
The Telecommunications Authority maintains that digital access must reach every corner of Trinidad and Tobago, from rural and urban areas to large institutions like hospitals and even smaller community clinics.