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.
