Health
Colombian Medical Team saves North Caicos Boy from rare throat disorder
Deandrea Hamilton
Editor
Turks and Caicos, March 15, 2025 – The disease is Type 1 Achalasia; which blocks the esophagus and makes eating a difficult and painful experience. It is so rare that each year only one case in every one hundred thousand people is detected. It’s likely why a North Caicos family found themselves in a frightening guessing game when the disorder attacked the esophagus of their ten-year-old son; driving him to a scary state of malnutrition as his body rejected just about every meal he tried to eat.
“Post surgery, he has recovered well. He is eating and back to his normal diet. I just want to give thanks to the doctors, and the Almighty for giving them the wisdom to recognise what was the necessary procedure and for taking us through it safely.”
On the other side of this medical dilemma was a team skilled with correcting the problem; they are based in Colombia, at the International Hospital of Colombia. Experience with the surgical procedure among the adult population had already prepared the doctors, which was easily able to transfer that expertise and attention to younger patients.
“Under the leadership of Dr. Juan Javier Acevedo, a specialist in Gastrointestinal Surgery and Digestive Endoscopy, and Dr. Carlos Augusto Cuadros, a specialist in Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, the medical team conducted a high-resolution esophageal manometry, a test that evaluates pressure and coordination of esophageal movements. The results confirmed the diagnosis of type 1 achalasia, allowing them to determine the most appropriate treatment approach,” explained a statement from the hospital which is part of the pool of medical facilities in the TCI’s Treatment Abroad Program.
The TCI National Health Insurance Board manages the Treatment Abroad Program, TAP.
Tivon Wright was enjoying a typical existence as an outstanding achiever of the Charles Hubert James Primary School in Kew, North Caicos.
The fifth grader, who recently earned second place prize at the FortisTCI primary school Science Quiz, is a gold medal singer in the Music Festival of the Department of Culture and secured first place in the Department of Education’s Math Speed Quiz, was growing well and doing well when classic achalasia hijacked his health.
Today, he is beaming and eating and for everyone who participated in his return to a normal, happy existence, this is a relief and a miracle.
“It was very scary because before that, we did not know what was happening, just that he was not eating and losing weight and everybody was worried.
I want to thank the almighty God and I want to thank the medical personnel here in Turks and Caicos because the diagnosis started here.
Dr. Gomo Laidlow examined him and he realized that there was something wrong. He (Tivon) would eat something, whether liquid or solid, and throw it up. Over time we saw him losing weight, drastically,” said Kwabena Katakayle Wright, Tivon’s father.
The recommendation from the North Caicos Clinic was for Tivon to see a pediatrician in Providenciales. That visit resulted in an x-ray which exposed the issue and gave the doctors in Colombia the information they needed to prepare for their first international patient for type 1 achalasia.
An image sent to the team from the Turks and Caicos revealed the blockage; the doctors knew immediately what needed to happen and activated a life-changing plan.
“There was a blockage in the esophagus, and the pediatrician said there is no pediatric surgeon team in the Turks and Caicos, that we would have to go overseas.
That is when Nurse Mickel of the National Health Insurance Board contacted me and told us that we would be accepted in Colombia.”
The family embarked on the one-day trip to Colombia last November, and the effort to get Tivon back to good health was tireless.
“They were very professional. From the time we arrived, the doctors and the nurses there were working around the clock. I really admire their professionalism and the type of service that we received,” said Mr. Wright.
In a virtual interview with Magnetic Media earlier this week, the joy on the faces of the doctors who performed that life-altering surgery was unmistakable and heartening.
“From the time they saw the image sent to them from the Turks and Caicos, they already had a plan in their minds.”
Mr. Wright confirmed the same, adding that an endoscopy was performed for further evaluation of Tivon’s condition.
“They verified that yes, there was a blockage but the pediatrician and the surgeon wanted to see a little more.”
Tivon was taken to a second facility for that evaluation and then the surgery was scheduled.
“To correct this condition, the specialists performed a peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM), a minimally invasive procedure. Using an endoscope, we made a controlled incision in the lower esophageal sphincter to reduce pressure and allow food to pass normally,” explained Dr. Acevedo. “This is the first POEM case in an international pediatric patient at HIC.”
The doctors said they are truly excited at the results for Tivon and reiterated that it was their experience that qualified them for the task. We asked them about the possible origin of the condition.
“The specific cause of the disease is unknown, but there is a hypothesis that it is a viral infection and another hypothesis that it is an auto-immune disease that affects the throat and the esophagus. But the actual cause is unknown.”
During the virtual interview, Tivon had an opportunity to also share his gratitude and feelings. The student said that he was happy, that he trusted God the whole time and confirmed that his first meal, following the surgery, was an island favourite, “rice with chicken.”
It was prepared Colombian style and yes, it went down and stayed down to cement that master Wright was well on the road to full recovery.
“He can now eat normally, but it is important to continue with the follow up with the specialist and also with endoscopic images.”
A follow up visit to his doctors in Colombia is planned for this Summer.
Photos courtesy of Wright Family
Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
Turks and Caicos, September 6, 2025 – COVID-19 fears in the Turks and Caicos Islands that once had residents on edge are now giving way to a sense of relief. The Ministry of Health and Human Services reports a dramatic reversal: from dozens of new cases in July to zero cases and zero hospitalizations today.
Between August 17 and 23, 2025, officials confirmed no new cases, no hospitalizations, and no new deaths. Just two recoveries were recorded, bringing the national recovery tally to 6,866. The total confirmed cases since 2020 stand at 6,922, with deaths unchanged at 41. Health officials say August has been relatively quiet overall, with 19 new cases and recoveries recorded for the month — a fraction of what the islands faced just weeks earlier.
The contrast could not be sharper. The most concerning bulletin came in mid-July, when the Ministry reported 54 new cases in a single
week. Ten were fresh positives, while the other 44 came from a backlog of April samples. At that time, two new hospitalizations were recorded, and the islands mourned one additional COVID-related death, bringing the total to 41. It was a sobering reminder that the virus was still circulating, pushing recoveries to 6,845 and raising the cumulative case count to 6,910. The July spike stirred fear among residents and renewed calls for vigilance, as community spread and delayed lab results painted a worrying picture.
Fast forward to late August, and the numbers tell a very different story. Not only are new cases negligible, but the hospitals are reporting no COVID-19 patients at all. Officials say testing continues across a wide range of categories, and the Ministry urges the public to stay cautious: wash hands, wear masks in crowded spaces, protect the vulnerable, and get vaccinated. But the tone now is one of optimism.
Since the pandemic began in 2020, Turks and Caicos has recorded nearly 7,000 cases in total, with 6,866 recoveries and 41 deaths. The islands’ small population means every case has felt significant, and surges like July’s were especially unsettling. But today’s figures suggest the country has reached a new stage: COVID-19 is no longer the disruptive force it was. The Ministry credits continued public vigilance and the accessibility of free testing and vaccines at government clinics. While the numbers are cause for celebration, health leaders are careful not to declare the fight over. The Ministry’s latest bulletin reminds residents to maintain hygienic practices, follow self-isolation guidelines if infected, and ensure vaccinations are up to date.
The pandemic may not be entirely behind the Turks and Caicos, but compared to the frightening figures of July, the near-zero landscape of August offers a powerful sign of hope.
The Ministry released the bulletin on September 2, confirming that for the week of August 17–23, no new cases, hospitalizations, or deaths were recorded — a sharp contrast to the surge just weeks earlier.
Health
Turks and Caicos Islands Health Delegation Completes Strategic Visits to Florida and Cayman Islands to Advance Health Sector Reform and Strengthen Treatment Abroad Programme
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 22 August 2025 — A high-level delegation from the Ministry of Health and Human Services (MOHHS) has successfully concluded strategic working visits to Florida and the Cayman Islands from August 5–13, 2025. The mission aimed to strengthen the Treatment Abroad Programme, explore innovative health system models, and advance the Turks and Caicos Islands’ health sector reform agenda through strategic regional partnerships.
Delegation Members:
- Hon. Kyle Knowles – Minister of Health and Human Services
MoHHS Team with Health City Executive Management Team
- Mrs. Desiree Lewis – Permanent Secretary, Health and Human Services
- Mr. Lynrod Brooks – Director, Health Policy and Planning
- Ms. Florinda Talbot – Contract Performance Manager
- Mrs. Romaine Missick-Smith – CEO, Health Regulations Authority
- Ms. Jasmine Malcolm – Executive Administrator, MOHHS
Minister of Health and Human Services, Hon. Kyle Knowles, highlighted the significance of these engagements:
“These visits were not ceremonial; they were strategic, focused, and impactful. In Florida, we reinforced partnerships with leading healthcare providers to ensure TCI patients referred overseas receive the highest standards of clinical care and patient support. In the Cayman Islands, our mission was two-fold: to study the operations of the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority as a model to guide the establishment of our own Health Services Authority, and to strengthen ties with Cayman-based treatment partners, where many of our patients are referred under the Treatment Abroad Programme. Both visits underscored that small island states share many health challenges, and that collaboration, innovation, and adapting best practices to our local context are essential to achieving better health outcomes for our people.”
Florida – Strengthening the Treatment Abroad Programme
MoHHS Team with Cayman Minsterial officials
During the period August 5–9, the delegation visited Broward Medical Center, University of Miami Health System, Cleveland Clinic, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, and the International Reinsurance Managers Network. They also toured REVA Air Ambulance Services to review medical evacuation operations and patient transfer management. Discussions centered on patient care pathways, specialized services in ophthalmology, cardiology, oncology, and pediatrics, family-centered care models, advanced telemedicine for pre- and post-treatment consultations, and reinsurance strategies for high-cost overseas cases. Key outcomes include agreements to expand telehealth consultations, develop a standardized referral package to reduce delays, explore reinsurance arrangements to safeguard public health budgets, and establish specialized pediatric transfer protocols.
Cayman Islands – Health Sector Reform and Treatment Abroad Partnerships
From August 10–13, the delegation engaged with senior executives at Health City Cayman Islands, including Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil (Clinical Director), Shomari Scott (Chief Business Development Officer), Rebecca Brooks (Head of Marketing and Sales), and Ingrid Harris (Sales and Marketing). The team toured two hospital facilities and held in-depth discussions with Lizzette Yearwood, Chief Executive Officer along with leadership staff of the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority
The focus was two-fold:
- Health Sector Reform – Examining governance, financial management, and operational structures of the Cayman Islands HSA model
MoHHS Team with CEO and senior official Cayman HSA
to inform TCI’s development of its own Health Services Authority.
- Treatment Abroad Strengthening – Reviewing current referral arrangements with Cayman healthcare partners to enhance patient care coordination and improve treatment pathways for TCI patients referred to Cayman.
The delegation also met with Honourable Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, Minister for Health, Environment, Sustainability, and Honourable G. Wayne Panton, Parliamentary Secretary for Health. The team concluded with a meeting with Acting Premier Hon. Gary B. Rutty and Cabinet members, reaffirming the shared commitment to improving healthcare access and outcomes through regional collaboration.
Next Steps
The Ministry will incorporate lessons learned from these visits into ongoing health reform planning, ensuring that the proposed Health Services Authority is tailored to TCI’s needs while reflecting regional best practices. Efforts will continue to ensure that the Treatment Abroad Programme delivers efficient, sustainable, and patient-centered care.
