Partnerships with a number of key agencies and organizations across Saint Lucia continue as the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerments seeks to deliver on its mandate of building more resilient communities.
The latest collaboration took place on July 1, 2023, as part of activities to celebrate Fishermen’s Feast (June 29).
The Ministry collaborated with the Gros Islet Fishermen’s Cooperative Society to host a Health Fair on the grounds of the fisheries complex.
Members of the fishing community, as well as residents, benefited from a variety of health related services that were offered by a medical team, free of charge.
Services offered included blood pressure and blood sugar screening, body mass index check, mental health and nutrition counselling, dental assessment and sexual health and chronic diseases education.
Representatives from the Division of Environmental Health also provided information on vector control strategies that can be easily implemented in the home.
President of the Fishermen’s Cooperative Vincent McDoom, thanked everyone who worked assiduously to bring this service to the community and gave the assurance that a similar activity will be organized next year and that hopefully more members of the community would participate.
Expressing similar sentiments, Social Transformation Officer for the region David Moise alluded to the impact that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) or chronic diseases have on the nation and believes that early detection can help save lives.
He cited data from the Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sharon Belmar-George that approximately 82% of deaths on the island are as a result of NCDs.
This, Moise noted, was alarming and urged citizens to take advantage of every opportunity to appreciate their health, avail themselves of health services, especially when offered free, as this would inevitably contribute to a healthier nation.
Mr. Moise further expressed gratitude to the medical team led by Nurse Ginni Morgan-Rahael – Principal Nurse for Division 1, Nurse Naomi Grandison from the Bureau of Health Education, Elias Mc Phee and Concessa Harold-Daway from the cooperative who were part of the organizing team.
SOURCE: Ministry of Equity, Social Justice & Empowerment
“Services offered included blood pressure and blood sugar screening, body mass index check, mental health and nutrition counselling, dental assessment and sexual health and chronic diseases education.”
All them thing has been free at the HEalth Center for decades. What nonsense? You governments especially SLP has be fooling the fishermen forever. Remmber Kenny at the pond in VFort in 2010 asking the then PM King to give the fishermen their money? He became PM in 2011 and the same fishermen had to protest against him in 2013 for the same reason. He never paid the fishermen what he was asking King to pay. Now the promise to remove the $1.5 on the gas price. What did they do? They raise the price of gas. Going back to the health issue. Why didn’t they give PSA (prostate) test for free instaed? Knowing that it’s a common desease and the test is expensive.