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Ministry of Health Opens Mental Care’s Center for Hope

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By Deandrea Hamilton & Dana Malcolm

Editorial Staff

 

#TurksandCaicos, December 9, 2022 – For the first time in history The Turks and Caicos islands has a designated mental health facility and Dr. Alicia Malcolm, director of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence has the keys to prove it.

The all new Center of Hope opened with flair on Thursday December 8.

For now the Health Ministry says the facility can accommodate a maximum of 30 individuals and is ‘specifically designed for persons with mental health or substance use disorders that require:  residential treatment services, community mental health step down services or forensic mental health services.’

It is expected this new facility will be the conduit linking support agencies of Government and offering expert care to families in the Turks and Caicos Islands, who are coping and often overwhelmed by the toll of mental health issues.

The tragic death of Garrick Tucker, as a rare but heartbreaking example comes to mind with a realization like this one.  Tucker, who struggled with mental instability and whose mother had pleaded desperately for help online mere hours before her son would die in a car crash, fueled calls for a space for the mentally challenged.

“The primary objective of the facility is to provide treatment, psychosocial rehabilitation, and links to support networks and other services.  Additionally, the facility will provide person-centered, recovery and rights-based approaches in mental health by upholding key principles that are important in the delivery of mental health services,” explained the ministry in a statement.

The Center of Hope was labored over by both PNP and PDM administrations and dates back to 2016.   Former health minister, Jamell Robinson had announced delivery of the center by the end of 2022 and on Thursday it finally opened.

The opening could also signal the a return home of  some of the country’s mental health patients living overseas, ushering in an era where specialized care could be delivered nearer to loved ones.

In the case of Garrick Tucker, it was explained that procedure and placement were issues in the case, but also professionals.

It is less clear who will staff the site as TCIG continues to struggle with severe staff shortages compounded by a globally competitive environment for qualified individuals in the field of medicine and education.

Nonetheless, Center for Hope’s opening is a milestone in health for the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The event was attended by Anya Williams, Acting Governor; Shaun Malcolm, Minister of Health and Human Services and stakeholders from the TCI Hospitals, Police Department, the Judiciary and Social Development.

Health

Polio Milestone remembered as region increases vaccine coverage

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Garfield Ekon

Staff Writer

 

 

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the certification of the eradication of wild polio virus transmission in the Region of the Americas.

In 1975, the region reported nearly 6,000 cases of polio.

However, thanks to child vaccination and sustained surveillance implemented by Governments with the support of PAHO and partners, the last case of wild polio virus was detected in September 1991 in Peru.

In 1994, the region was certified as free of this disease.

“Achieving a milestone like this is not easy. It involves a lot of work, commitment, and tenacity from thousands of health workers, researchers, partners, and all the people responsible for vaccinating their children,” PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa said.

However, Dr Barbosa warned about the persistence of poliovirus in other parts of the world. “Until we eradicate the poliovirus globally, we must maintain high vaccination coverage and adequate surveillance to detect any imported cases,” he emphasised.

Polio is a highly contagious disease that affects the central nervous system, causing acute flaccid paralysis. Although most infections are asymptomatic, in 1 in 200 cases, the virus can cause permanent paralysis in the legs or arms. Globally, polio cases have declined by more than 99 per cent since 1988, when an estimated 350,000 cases were reported in more than 125 endemic countries.

There are now just two endemic countries: Pakistan and Afghanistan. However, the poliovirus does not respect borders and can find groups of unvaccinated or under-immunized children, which could lead to outbreaks. Dr Barbosa highlighted the impact of immunisation programmes in controlling and eliminating vaccine-preventable diseases and emphasised the continued support of governments and partners, such as Rotary International and the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Despite the progress, the PAHO Director mentioned that misinformation and distrust, along with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, “continue to affect vaccination coverage in some areas and populations” in the region.

In 2023, 87 per cent of children in the Americas had received the third dose of the polio vaccine necessary for full immunization, a recovery from 83 per cent in 2022, but still below the recommended coverage rate. To prevent the reintroduction of the virus, “it is essential to continue working to achieve sustained coverage of more than 95 per cent uniformly in each country,” Dr Barbosa remarked.

On rare occasions, in under-immunised populations, the live attenuated virus originally contained in the oral polio vaccine can mutate and become a circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus. This virus, as it replicates in the gastrointestinal tract, can spread through faeces and sewage, circulating in the environment, and exposing unvaccinated individuals, who are susceptible to contracting polio.

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Bahamas News

Government Breaks Ground on Palmetto Point Advanced Health Centre

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The Bahamas, November 6, 2024 – The Honourable Dr. Michael R. Darville, Minister of Health & Wellness, joined by Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, the Honourable Philip Davis and Member of Parliament for Central and South Eleuthera, the Honourable Clay Sweeting, officially broke ground today on the Palmetto Point Advanced Health Centre. This groundbreaking represents a critical investment in the expansion of healthcare services throughout the archipelago.

This Advanced Health Centre will cover approximately 14,500 square feet on a four-acre site and hold the main health centre inclusive of a modern surgical suite and recovery wards, an attached morgue, medical waste building and emergency services quarters. With features such as hurricane-impact windows and doors, handicap accessibility and EDGE certification for sustainability this Centre is designed to meet the present and future healthcare needs of the community.

Prime Minister Davis highlighted the significance of the project stating, “This groundbreaking reinforces our commitment to equitable healthcare across The Bahamas, aligning with our vision outlined in our Blueprint of Change.”   

Minister Darville expressed, “This event is about more than constructing a building, it is about delivering on our commitment to improve the health and well-being of our people.”

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by healthcare professionals, government officials and stakeholders who contributed to the project’s development. Similar to the new Mangrove Cay Clinic, which broke ground on October 16, 2024, the Palmetto Point Advanced Health Centre is expected to be completed within 15 months of the contractor’s mobilization.

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Health

Turks and Caicos Islands Ministry of Health and Human Services, in Partnership with PAHO, Launches Training to Improve Cardiovascular and Mental Health Care

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PRESS RELEASE

 

FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH

AND HUMAN SERVICES 

 

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands 29th October 2024 – The Ministry of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Bahamas Office, has launched a transformative initiative to enhance healthcare across the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI). This joint training, held from October 21st – 25th, 2024, at the Hamilton Education Foundation in Providenciales, gathered over 30 healthcare professionals from both the public and private sector, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, nutritionist, representatives from TCI Hospital, representatives from Anguilla, and virtual participants from across the TCI.

The interactive training covered two vital programs: the HEARTS Quality Improvement (QI) initiative and the Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP). The HEARTS QI initiative, supported by WHO through PAHO, aims to improve cardiovascular care by equipping TCI’s primary healthcare providers with tools for high-quality cardiovascular disease (CVD) management, ultimately enhancing outcomes for heart disease patients. Concurrently, the mhGAP program prepares frontline workers to assess and address mental health needs, an increasingly critical service amid rising mental health challenges worldwide.

The training was facilitated by PAHO advisors Dr. Claudina Cayetano, Dr. Taraleen Malcolm, and Dr. Gloria Giraldo. Medical Officers Dr. Samantha Barrett-Palmer and Dr. Jomo Laidlow from Primary Health Care presented an overview of TCI’s non-communicable diseases (NCDs) status and Turks and Caicos Islands Clinical Pathway. This training was designed to equip healthcare providers to deliver standardized, high-quality care with a strong focus on underserved communities.

Honourable Minister of Health and Human Services, Shaun D Malcom, expressed dedication to strengthening TCI’s healthcare system, emphasizing the ministry’s focus on disease prevention and accessible treatment:

“Our collaboration with PAHO on the HEARTS and mhGAP initiatives is a critical step toward comprehensive, quality care tailored to community needs. By equipping healthcare professionals with the right skills, we are actively improving patient outcomes and building a compassionate and effective health system.”

The HEARTS QI and mhGAP rollout represents a significant step in healthcare in the Caribbean, offering a scalable model for regional public health enhancement.

Through these initiatives, the TCI and PAHO are prioritizing healthcare quality and supporting primary healthcare providers in their mission to improve health outcomes. The Ministry of Health is grateful to PAHO for facilitating this timely joint mission at this critical time.

For further information on the HEARTS initiative, mhGAP, or the Ministry’s work with PAHO, please visit the Ministry of Health’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth/.

 

Left to Right – Dr Alicia Malcolm, Director Behavioral Health Services, Dr Claudina Cayetano- PAHO Regional Advisor for Mental Health, Hon. Shaun D Malcolm-Minister of Health and Human Services and Dr Gloria Giraldo PAHO Advisor, Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health.

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