PRESS RELEASE

FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH

AND HUMAN SERVICES

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Thursday, 10 April 2025: On 7 April 2025,  The Ministry of Health and Human Services joins the global community in recognising World Health Day under the theme “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures.” This year, the focus is on ensuring every mother and baby in the Turks and Caicos Islands has access to quality care for a healthy start in life.

A healthy pregnancy begins with early antenatal care, which is crucial for protecting both mother and baby. Women who receive early and regular check-ups are more likely to have safer pregnancies, healthier babies, and fewer complications during childbirth. The Ministry of Health and Human Services advocates for early antenatal care, available at all primary healthcare facilities across the Turks and Caicos Islands. Pregnant women are encouraged to start their antenatal visits as soon as they learn they are expecting to receive the best possible care.

Benefits of Early and Consistent Antenatal Care

Regular check-ups provide essential medical support, guidance, and protection for both mother and baby. Here’s how early and consistent antenatal care helps:

• Keeps Mother and Baby Healthy: Regular check-ups ensure both mother and baby are doing well.
• Tracks Growth and Health: Checks include measuring blood pressure, weight, and ensuring the baby is growing properly.
• Catches Problems Early: Issues like low iron, high blood sugar, or infections can be found and treated before they worsen.
• Safer Pregnancy and Birth: Early care helps prevent serious complications and makes delivery safer.
• Provides Important Nutrients and Vaccines: Mothers receive vitamins like iron and folic acid, and vaccines like the tetanus shot to prevent infections.
• Gives Helpful Pregnancy Advice: Doctors and nurses guide mothers on healthy eating, staying active, and avoiding harmful substances like smoking and alcohol.
• Supports Mental Health: Pregnancy can bring emotional changes, and care includes support to help mothers feel their best.

The Ministry of Health and Human Services ensures the highest quality care is available for delivery and the period immediately after, supporting both mother and child. Importantly, care for mothers and babies does not stop at childbirth. Postnatal care is available at all Primary Health Care facilities, ensuring that both mother and newborn receive necessary medical attention in the critical weeks following delivery. Postnatal care helps monitor recovery after birth, provides guidance on breastfeeding and infant nutrition, and supports mothers in adjusting to life with a newborn. It also helps detect and address postpartum complications such as infections, excessive bleeding, and mental health concerns, including postpartum depression.

Childhood Immunisations

Vaccination is crucial in protecting children from serious illnesses and ensuring they grow up healthy. The Ministry of Health and Human Services encourages all parents to ensure their children receive recommended immunisations as part of routine pediatric care. Childhood vaccines protect against diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, polio, and whooping cough, preventing serious health complications and reducing the spread of infections within communities. By keeping up with the immunisation schedule, parents provide their children with the best protection against vaccine-preventable diseases.

Honourable Kyle Knowles commented, “The health of mothers and babies is the foundation of strong families and communities. Ensuring access to early antenatal care, quality postnatal care, and essential childhood vaccinations is a key priority for the Ministry of Health and Human Services. These services are vital to reducing pregnancy-related complications, supporting new mothers, and protecting our children from preventable diseases. I encourage all expectant mothers in the Turks and Caicos Islands to visit their nearest primary healthcare facility as soon as they know they are pregnant. Likewise, I urge parents to keep up with their children’s immunisations to give them the best start in life. Together, we can ensure healthier beginnings and brighter futures for our families.”

For more information on antenatal and postnatal care services, as well as childhood immunisations, visit your nearest primary health care facility:

• Cheshire Hall Medical Centre: 338-5472
• Blue Hills: 946-5613
• Grand Turk: 338-5461
• North Caicos/Middle Caicos: 247-2126 / 431-0911
• South Caicos: 946-3800 / 345-7360

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

Turks and Caicos, April 4, 2025 – Ms. Florinda Talbot, originally from the green island of North Caicos, began her career in 1991 as a temporary teacher at Adelaide Oemler Primary School. Her dedication to education earned her a TCIG scholarship to pursue a Teaching Diploma at Mico Teachers’ College. After her studies, she taught at Eliza Simons for one year and at Enid Capron Primary School for ten years.

Following her teaching career, Ms. Talbot ventured into banking and then went on to become one of the first employees of the National Health Insurance Plan, where her passion for healthcare deepened. In 2010, she crafted a personal development plan that guided her to achieve a Bachelor’s Degree with Honors in Health and Social Care and an MBA in Hospital Management from the University of Bedfordshire.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Upon returning home, she took on the role of Deputy Contract Performance Manager at the Ministry of Health and Human Services, advancing to Contract Performance Manager in April 2018. In this position, she oversees the Project Agreement with InterHealth Canada for hospital operations.                                                                                                                                                      Driven to further her education, Ms. Talbot left the Turks and Caicos Islands to pursue a second Master’s degree in Nursing, supported by financial assistance from the Professional Development Fund through the Deputy Governor’s Office. She has since returned to her role as Contract Performance Manager and spoke with The Public Service Times about her journey and the motivations behind it.

What inspired you to pursue a Master of Arts in Nursing, particularly focusing on adult care?

I recalled since I was a child I wanted to become a Nurse as it gives me fulfilment when caring for others. I believe that adults, particularly the elderly, deserve optimal care as many have paved the way for us to enjoy and benefit from a better way of life. As a Nurse, I am confident that I can make a positive difference in the lives of individuals who need care. Furthermore, this area also provides a high degree of career flexibility and various employment prospects. As an adult nurse, I further developed the skills and confidence to bring comfort, improve the patient’s quality of life, whatever their situation, promote health and save lives.

What aspects of the Master of Arts in Nursing program were most challenging for you, and how did you tackle those challenges as a full-time student?

The most challenging aspect of the Master of Arts in Nursing Program was obtaining the Nursing and Midwifery Council, which required 4600 hours, including theory and practical. Meeting project deadlines was also a challenge. However, I learnt from my previous studies the importance of prioritizing and planning tasks, which assisted me greatly with maintaining a healthy balance.

How did your academic journey enhance your understanding and effectiveness in your role within the Ministry of Health?

My academic journey in the Masters in Adult Nursing Program has strengthened my clinical competence and enabled me to make valuable clinical contributions to the Ministry of Health as a Registered Nurse. In particular, I will be monitoring and assessing the quality of clinical and non-clinical services being provided to patients.

What key takeaways or insights from your program that you plan to apply in your current position?

Some key takeaways or insights from my program that I plan to apply in my current position are encouraging and highlighting the importance of engaging patients in their care, moving away from the medical model of care, and making it more patient-centred. Additionally, I will continue to support our Primary Health Care sector as it continues to provide treatment for common illnesses, closer management of long-term illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, and heart disease and the prevention of future ill health through advice, immunization and screening programmes. This will, in turn, minimise the demand on the secondary level of care.

Can you share a memorable moment or project during your studies that significantly shaped your professional perspective?                                                                                                                                                                                                                               A memorable moment during my studies was during my hospital placement in Theatres, where I was given the opportunity to lead the surgical team for the day. This role included leading the team with the safer surgery checklist. This includes briefing, sign-in, timeout, sign-out, debriefing and managing the surgical staff breaks during the procedures. This opportunity strengthened my leadership and time management skills, significantly contributing to my professional development.                                                                                                                                                                                                     What motivated you to succeed in your studies, and how did that impact your overall program experience?

My strong desire to help others, combined with a passion for healthcare and the ability to make a positive impact on patient’s lives when they are in their most vulnerable state. The patient’s smile, the daily acts of kindness and gratitude verbally expressed by my nursing colleagues, and the appreciation shown to me as part of the team have been some of the most motivating aspects of the program.

How do you envision using your Master’s degree to impact healthcare delivery and contract performance in your role at the Ministry of Health?

I anticipate using the additional knowledge and skills acquired to work with the Ministry of Health inter-professional teams to review and develop evidence-based policies and procedures, further enhancing patient care. Additionally, I intend to utilise the technical aspect of my experience and knowledge acquired relating to clinical governance and auditing, applying it to aspects of monitoring and managing the delivery of the healthcare contract.

KINGSTON, April 1 (JIS): On April 2, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, through its Early Stimulation Programme (ESP), will join the global community in observing World Autism Day.

To raise awareness, the ESP will host an Autism Symposium at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston, on Wednesday, April 2, focusing on promoting inclusion, raising public awareness, celebrating the abilities of persons with disabilities (PWDs), and emphasising the importance of early diagnosis and intervention at showcasing the unique talents of these remarkable children.

“This symposium is not just an event; it is a movement to change perceptions. We want everyone, especially future educators, to understand that these children can reach their highest potential with the right support and opportunities,” Director of the ESP in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS), Antonica Gunter Gayle, told JIS News in an interview.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 “Our children with disabilities are children first; therefore, they must be included in all spheres of society,” she emphasised.                                                                                                                                                                                                               Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., will be the guest speaker at the symposium.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      This year’s theme, ‘Celebrating Neurodiversity: Promoting Inclusion’, centres around  the importance of inclusion, respect, and celebration of children with disabilities.   Mrs. Gunter Gayle articulated a vision in which children with special needs, including those with Autism, Down syndrome, and other developmental disabilities, are afforded the same opportunities as their non-disabled peers.

“The goal for a child with disabilities is the same as for any child – security, love and a normal environment where they can thrive,” Mrs. Gunter Gayle added.

Notable participants at the symposium include UNICE; the Ministry of Health and Wellness; the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information; local educational institutions, such as the University of Technology (UTech) Jamaica, The Mico University College, Shortwood and St. Joseph’s Teachers’ Colleges.

The afternoon segment will offer limited screening opportunities for children from the ESP wait list, along with individual counselling sessions for parents and caregivers seeking guidance and resources.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is defined as a developmental condition that affects communication, social interaction, and behaviour, Given its unique spectrum, autism presents both challenges and strengths in each individual.

The ESP has been instrumental in changing lives, successfully transitioning special needs children into the primary education system each year, while serving more than 3,000 children across Jamaica.

Contact: Judith A. Hunter

Release: JIS

Photo Caption: Director of the Early Stimulation Programme (ESP) in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Antonica Gunter Gayle.