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Clockwise from top: Prime Minister Harris after he received the vaccination; the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett (left) with PS Dr Delores Stapleton-Harris; Dr Dail Crawford in a previous health walk; Dr Leroy Richardson in a previous health walk.
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Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris (2nd left in a SKN Moves shirt) at the start of a previous Prime Minister’s Monthly Health Walk, seen walking alongside walk organiser Ms Myrtilla Williams.
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, February 25, 2021 (MMS-SKN) — The highly popular Prime Minister’s Monthly Health Walk will be held on Saturday February 27, taking participants on the regular route from Bellevue to Ottley’s. At the end of the walk there will be a special session where participants and members of the general public will be sensitised on the Covid-19 vaccine rollout.
“This particular health walk is a little special because Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris is going to join in the educational drive on the Covid-19 vaccine rollout bringing it to his constituency level, and his constituents, by having some health officials to give information on the vaccination, and the importance of becoming vaccinated,” said Ms Myrtilla Williams, one of Prime Minister’s Monthly Health Walk organisers.
According to information received through the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Dr Delores Stapleton-Harris, who is herself a regular Prime Minister’s Monthly Health Walk participant, National HIV/AIDS Programme Coordinator and Health Educator Dr Mathias Afortu-Ofre will be among the health officials giving out information. He will be joined by medical practitioners, who are regular health walk participants, Dr Dail Crawford, and Dr Leroy Richardson.
“The Prime Minister, in his responsibility to his constituents, nation and also on a regional level as CARICOM’s lead spokesperson for health, is once more giving persons the opportunity to take part in the walk for their own health benefits,” said Ms Williams.
Participants will assemble at the bus stop in Bellevue for the walk that starts at 5:30 am to take them along the Island Main Road to Ottley’s.
“We know that we in St. Kitts and Nevis have been managing the Covid-19 pandemic, and so we are at a stage now where we have a vaccine,” noted Ms Williams.
A national vaccine rollout started on Monday February 22 at the New Town Community Centre where Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris was the second person to receive the vaccination, after the Chief of Medical Staff at the JNF General Hospital Dr Cameron Wilkinson.
“We know a lot of people how they are – there is maybe some resistance to taking the vaccine, or there is concern because the internet has a way of giving information some of which is misleading and we do not know which is true or which is not true,” observed Ms Williams. “And so these persons will be there to assist us with answering any question and so on.”
The health walk organiser added: “Directly after the walk, we are inviting persons to come and get informed. It is the health of the individual person, your family, your seniors, your children, and the nation on a whole – you know they say a healthy nation is a wealthy nation.”
The walk is held under the umbrella of SKN Moves, and expected to give support to the health team as it reassures the public on the safety of vaccines being rolled out here in St. Kitts and Nevis will be three regular Prime Minister’s Monthly Health Walk participants, Minister of Health the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Dr Delores Stapleton-Harris, and District Medical Officer who is also the Deputy Speaker, Senator the Hon Dr Bernicia Nisbett.