TCI: Commissioning and Unveiling of two new Primary Health Care (PHC) clinics on the island of North Caicos

North Caicos, December 9, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – The Honorable Premier and the Minister of Health, Agriculture, Sports and Human Services are pleased to announce the successful commissioning and unveiling of the two new Primary Health Care (PHC) clinics on the island of North Caicos.       

The commissioning occurred on Friday 22^nd November, 2019 under the watchful eyes of patrons from North and Middle Caicos, who witnessed the unveiling and naming of the Cecelia Gray-Gardiner PHC clinic in Bottle Creek, and the Navilyn Leonza Hall- Butterfield PHC clinic in Kew. The occasion was a momentous one for the people of those islands, and was said to have been “worth the wait and all of the challenges experienced along the way to such grand openings.”

Registered Nurse/Midwife, Mrs. Cecelia Gray-Gardiner, a native of North Caicos provided forty (40) years of service with pride to that Island from 1946 to 1990 when she retired.  Mrs. Navilyn Hall-Butterfield was the first “Nanny” in the community of Kew and safely assisted many mothers during labour and delivery.

Strengthening delivery of health care services based on the principles of primary health care through the implementation of the Primary Health Care Renewal Strategy (PHCRS) and the redefined model of primary health care is one of the strategic priorities of the Ministry of Health. The construction and commissioning of these two new clinics on the island of North Caicos is in keeping with the PHCRS, strategic direction 2: improvement/strengthening of the physical infrastructure and staffing of public PHC facilities.

The Minister of Health commenting on the commissioning of the two new clinics in North Caicos stated “I am very happy for the people of North Caicos, and the Turks & Caicos on a whole to see these two new clinics open and modern health care services being available in the communities. This is a promise in the Government’s Change Document (pg. 44) which speaks to Increase Access to Health Care, the Strengthening of Primary Health Care, and the Promotion of healthy life Styles. The Government is committed to the continuance of the improvement of health facilities and services available throughout our communities. We want the residents to fully utilize the facilities and services available for the further prevention, identification, and treatment of medical conditions and disorders, and the maintenance of Healthy Lifestyles.”

Construction of the two new clinics was funded through the Turks and Caicos Islands Government’s Capital funding programme, and was completed within the required timeline. However, as was noted by the Government officials present at the commissioning, the two hurricanes of 2017, Irma and Maria, caused major setbacks to the procurement of furniture and equipment for these two health care facilities which required the approval of a separate capital project. The current clinics include more spacious waiting rooms/reception area, dispensary, consultation rooms, observation rooms/treatment rooms and patient and staff bathrooms.   Both clinics also house space for Dental Services and the Emergency Medical Services Department. This would see a more modernized health care services on the island of North Caicos, which will be more easily accessible and readily available to the residents and visitors on that island.

The Primary Health Care Department looks forward to welcoming both residents and visitors of North Caicos to these two modern facilities.  For more information, please contact the Primary Health Care Manager at telephone number 1-649-338-5469.

Release: TCIG