Basseterre, St. Kitts, July 31, 2018 (SKNIS): Residents in Molineux and the surrounding villages can now enjoy dental and 24 hour EMT/Ambulance service at the Mary Charles Hospital, thanks to the re-commissioning of these services as a part of the government’s mandate to fulfil goal number three of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on improving family health.
At the Re-commissioning Ceremony held on July 31 at the Mary Charles Hospital in Molineux, Minister of State with responsibility for Health, the Honourable Wendy Phipps, said that the community and institution based health services needs to work hand in hand to help improve the overall standard of living for citizens in the Federation.
“It is part of the ongoing commitment that the Team Unity Administration has made to the people of this country in terms of the improvement of health care. We recognize that for us to have the proper responses, both our community based health care approach and our institution based health care approach must work in tandem,” she stated.
Minister Phipps added that the reintroduction of the EMT/Ambulance service will be an enhancement of what previously existed, creating a quicker response time to emergency care island wide. She also said that the opening of the dental clinic will alleviate the pressure from the Pogson Medical Centre in Sandy Point, which is temporarily the primary public dental facility due to the temporary closure of the Newtown Dental Clinic.
Minister of Health, the Honourable Eugene Hamilton, while adding his thoughts about the re-commissioning of the important services at the hospital said that the new Dental Clinic and EMT/Ambulance services being relaunched will allow for increased care for the residents in the local community, especially to those who are in need.
“This is a time for much celebration indeed because the Team Unity Government is delivering on yet another strategic promise outlined in the national strategic plan for health as it embraces the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number three: family health, good health and well-being,” he added.
He also said that these renewed services will provide a disciplined and organized system with the necessary equipment, expertise and experience in emergency intervention which will allow a timely response for the healthcare professionals to address medical emergencies.
“We have pledged our commitment to provide healthcare for all in a holistic manner for the entire population, thereby reducing any perception of inequities. We are here this morning to demonstrate in several ways that we have kept our promise and to espouse the ministry’s motto: “People First; Quality Always,” said Minister Hamilton.
He commended the health care practitioners and professionals for the tremendous strides being made in the Federation and pledged that the government will continue to support the efforts to improve the overall health of the nation, specifically with disease prevention.
“St. Kitts and Nevis has made major strides in the development of quality healthcare delivery and as a Team Unity Government we will continue to do so while we demonstrate our leadership during our political tenure,” he said.
The enhancement project on the Mary Charles Hospital stated in 2015 where the hospital was renovated and reopened in 2016, with now the addition of the Dental Clinic and EMT/Ambulance Services. The ambulance was procured, thanks to connections with the St. Kitts and Nevis High Commissioner to London, His Excellency Dr. Kevin Isaac, who facilitated the handover of two ambulances to the Federation with assistance from other parties abroad.
