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