By LINDSAY THOMPSON
Bahamas Information Services
 

NASSAU, The Bahamas – Making good on his administration’s pledge to have healthcare accessible in all communities, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Hon. Philip Davis broke ground for the Coconut Grove Advanced Health Centre.

Despite rainy and windy conditions on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, the day was deemed a “big comeback” after Hurricane Matthew had derailed ongoing repairs to the Coconut Grove Clinic in 2016.

Prime Minister Davis delivered the keynote address for the Ground Breaking Ceremony at the site on Grasmerd Bend, Baillou Hill Road, just opposite the National Insurance Board.

“It’s good to be here. I know the weather might not look too good today, but believe me when I say that every day we draw closer to a brighter, healthier future for The Bahamas is a good day,” he said.  “Today is a comeback.  A big comeback.”

For nearly 45 years the old Coconut Grove Clinic provided essential maternal and child health services, general care and health education to all who passed through its doors.  But after it sustained damage from Hurricane Matthew, services were transferred to the nearby Baillou Hill Road and Fleming Street clinics.

The new facility will restore services to those residents in the surrounding areas of St. Barnabas, Englerston, and Bain and Grants Town.

The prime minister observed that the reality is that extreme weather events are threatening lives and the systems which preserve them.

“My administration was determined not to let this clinic – and many other clinics throughout our islands – fall through the cracks again. We are working, every day, across every island, to improve the lives of Bahamians,” he said.

Underscoring that health is an important component of his administration’s Blueprint for Change, the prime minister further noted that expanding health infrastructure, maximizing access to health services, and driving positive health outcomes are among the top priorities.

“In breaking ground on the Coconut Grove Advanced Health Care Centre, we are making progress on each of these fronts. Accessible healthcare will soon be at your doorstep,” he said.

The Coconut Grove Advanced Health Centre will be built to Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) certification, making it not just sustainable and handicap accessible, but climate resilient.  It will be a 14,500-square-foot facility built on the four-acre site at just over $10.5 million.  Construction is mobilized and is expected to be completed in approximately 15 months.

The Hon. Dr. Michael Darville, Minister of Health and Wellness, said that the facility will serve as a community clinic providing primary and urgent care services, taking some of the strain off the Princess Margaret Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department.

“It is designed to reduce waiting time, improve access to care and give residents a welcoming environment that supports prevention, early detection, and long term wellness,” he said.

Professionals involved in the project include: project architect, Livingstone Forbes; structural and civil engineers, Island Dimensions Development Company; mechanical and electrical engineers, Chris Symonette and Associates; general contractor, A & M Construction Company Ltd.; and the ministry’s quantity surveyor Veritas Consultants Ltd.

(BIS Photos/Mark Ford)

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Tuesday, 15 April 2025: The Ministry of Health and Human Services is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of an official three-day visit to the Turks and Caicos Islands by a technical team from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) Office in The Bahamas, held from 8 -10 April 2025.

The visiting delegation included:

• Dr. Eldonna Boisson, PAHO/WHO Representative for The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
• Dr. Anton Best, PAHO/WHO Advisor for Health Systems and Services.
• Dr. Sasha Peiris, PAHO/WHO Advisor for Communicable Diseases Control and Elimination.

During the visit, the team engaged in a series of high-level meetings with the Hon. Minister of Health and Human Services, the Acting Permanent Secretary of Health and Human Services, and senior officials from various departments and units within the Ministry of Health and Human Services. Meetings were convened in both Grand Turk and Providenciales. The delegation also visited Cockburn Town Medical Center, where they toured the facility, including the Primary Health and Dental Departments and interacted with staff.

The highlight of the visit was the recognition from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) of the Turks and Caicos Islands for its exceptional efforts in the surveillance, prevention, and control of respiratory viruses over the past ten years. The country was awarded for its collaboration with the Severe Acute Respiratory Infections Network (SARINET) and the REVELAC-1 network. This recognition highlights the islands’ leadership in early detection, prevention strategies, and effective outbreak control, underscoring the importance of global partnerships in addressing future health challenges.

The primary objectives of the visit were to:

• Identify and reach consensus on common strategic priorities and focus areas for PAHO’s Technical Cooperation in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
• Discuss the implementation, coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of key programme areas under the PAHO Biennial Work Plan 2024–2025.
• Align strategic objectives with one or more of the nine (9) targets under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages,” as well as other health-related SDG targets.
• Provide technical updates and support on ongoing health projects and programme initiatives, and those planned for the 2025/2026 financial year.

Speaking on the significance of the visit and the award, the Hon. Kyle Knowles Minister of Health and Human Services, stated:

“We are extremely pleased to welcome our partners from PAHO to the Turks and Caicos Islands. This visit reflects our shared commitment to strengthening our local health system and improving the well-being of our people. We are honoured to receive this award in recognition of our decades-long collaboration with PAHO, which has been instrumental in advancing key health initiatives across our islands. Through continued partnership, we remain committed to building a resilient, inclusive, and high-quality health system for all.”

This mission forms part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to foster strong partnerships with PAHO/WHO and other regional stakeholders. These partnerships continue to play a vital role in the development and execution of key health policies, strategies, and plans that aim to enhance the health and well-being of all residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

Header:  MOH team Grand Turk L-R (Ms. Crivanne Adams, Ms. Betty Ann Been, Ms. Leanne Sills, Dr Alicia Malcolm, Ms. Kendra Malcolm. Dr Astwood, Dr Camelia Clarke, Dr Eldonna Boisson, Mr. Andre Morgan, Dr Janice Baron, Mr. Lynrod Brooks, Dr Sasha Peiris, Dr Sasha Walrond, Dr Anton Best, Nurse Jackurlyn Sutton.

1st insert: Hon. Minister of Health and Human Services Kyle Knowles, Dr Eldonna Boisson

2nd insert: CMO Dr Astwood and PWR Dr Eldonna Boisson

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Tuesday, 15 April 2025:  In a stride towards enhancing regional health security, the Turks and Caicos Islands proudly hosted a week-long, high-level laboratory training focused on strengthening the diagnostic detection and surveillance of arboviruses. Held from 24 – 28 March 2025, the intensive workshop was facilitated by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) under the framework of the 11^th European Development Fund (EDF) Zika Programme. The sessions were conducted under the expert guidance of Nikhella Winter-Reece, an internationally recognised Laboratory Technologist Consultant with the European Union Division of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control, Laboratory Services and Network.

Launched in 2019, the EDF Zika Programme has become a beacon of hope and progress for the Caribbean, delivering vital support to bolster public health systems against mosquito-borne threats. Through this programme, countries like the TCI continue to benefit from regional expertise, collaborative knowledge exchange, and state-of-the-art practices, which reinforces our collective ability to protect lives and livelihoods.

Participants in the workshop engaged in both theoretical and hands-on practical sessions designed to sharpen laboratory techniques, improve the availability and use of surveillance data, and strengthen multi-country coordination in responding to arboviral outbreaks. This training not only empowered local health professionals but also reaffirmed the TCI’s commitment to the fight against emerging public health threats.

Mosquito-borne illnesses—such as Zika, Dengue, Chikungunya, and Yellow Fever—remain an ongoing global challenge, with over 700 million infections and more than one million deaths reported annually according to the World Health Organisation. These viruses, spread by infected mosquitoes and other arthropods, often flourish in warm weather, making tropical and subtropical regions particularly vulnerable. Infections can range from mild fevers and rashes to more severe complications, underscoring the need for timely detection and effective prevention strategies.

“The battle against arboviral diseases is a shared responsibility,” stated Ms. Arlene Siebs, Director of the National Public Health Laboratory. “Through initiatives like this, we’re not just improving local capacity—we’re building a regional network of skilled professionals who are better equipped to respond swiftly and effectively.”

Commenting on the workshop, Honourable Minister of Health and Human Services Kyle Knowles stated: “The National Public Health Laboratory continues to push the boundaries of diagnostic excellence by embracing cutting-edge technology and fostering strategic partnerships. This training represents a proactive investment in the health and well-being of the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands—and by extension, the Caribbean. This workshop underscores the power of regional solidarity and the importance of sustained investment in public health infrastructure. With every training, every test, and every shared lesson, the Caribbean moves one step closer to a healthier, more resilient future. The TCI was happy to host such a critical workshop.”

Please follow the Ministry of Health and Human Services Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth for updates and health information.