Basseterre, St. Kitts (SKNIS) — The Ministry of Health continues its mandate to promote healthy lifestyles to the citizens of the Federation, while providing them with the relevant information needed.
Recently, the Community-Based Nursing Services conducted their first Health Report for 2014. This was aimed at providing a comprehensive microscopic view, while sharing experiences as it relates to community health nursing.
Government officials including Junior Minister of Health, Hon. Wendy Phipps, Permanent Secretaries in the Ministry of Health, Andrew Skerritt and Mrs. Nicole Slack-Liburd for St. Kitts and for Nevis respectively, Dr. Patrick Martin, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), along with health planners and community nurses from across the Federation were in attendance.
Honourable Wendy Phipps spoke about challenges and opportunities in the health sector including Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD), increasing time away from work, use of information, communication technology, the aging population, the role of the community nurse, increased investment in skills and education as well as promoting health and adopting best practices.
Eulynis Brown, Community Nursing Services Coordinator, said the initiative “allowed them to get a holistic perspective of all facilities in St. Kitts and Nevis, as it was the first time they met with environmental and dental health officials. She said it gave them “a new approach to moving forward for future reports.”
The Community Nurses presented an overview of health program activities conducted from the designated health districts, followed by discussions and recommendations going forward. The session culminated with closing remarks by Dr. Retna Walwyn Browne, Acting Director of Community Health Services.
Dr. Browne congratulated the staff for their “efforts and commitment to health care over the years and highlighted strengths and areas for improvement going forward.”