The recent launch of the i-Screen Wound Management Module and the donation of 30 tablet computers by the Taiwan Embassy are being hailed as another milestone in the longstanding friendship between Saint Lucia and Taiwan, while strengthening efforts to tackle chronic health conditions across the island.
Officials said the new module and equipment are important in the prevention and management of metabolic chronic diseases, a group of long-term conditions that includes diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.
The i-Screen App is a digital platform used to collect and manage patient information. It helps health workers identify people at risk and monitor those already living with these conditions.
Developed by Saint Lucia’s Health Information Unit in collaboration with Cathay General Hospital in Taiwan and the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF), the platform is linked directly to Saint Lucia’s National Health Information System (SLUHIS). The integration streamlines patient records and supports continuity of care.
The system is used in 30 primary healthcare centres and across Saint Lucia’s eight health regions. It enables Community Health Aides (CHAs) and other frontline personnel to record key health indicators, including blood sugar and blood pressure readings, during outreach activities.
Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia Nicole Su said she was pleased to learn the app is now fully integrated with SLUHIS and that plans are under way to expand its capabilities.
“Metabolic chronic diseases, particularly diabetes, often lead to severe complications such as chronic wounds, which require precise and continuous tracking,” she said. “In order to facilitate your work on the recording, monitoring, and the assessing of wound healing progress, we have therefore developed this new Module on the i-Screen App so that the process could be digitally assisted with higher accuracy and efficiency.”
The ambassador said the 30 tablets complement an earlier donation of 50 devices, increasing access to the technology.Â
She added that since the Capacity Building Project for the Prevention and Control of Metabolic Chronic Diseases was launched in 2023, the commitment of community health aides and frontline nursing professionals has contributed to significant gains in addressing these illnesses.
Minister of Health, Wellness and Nutrition Moses Jn. Baptiste said the government and people of Saint Lucia remain grateful for the continued collaboration with the Taiwan Technical Mission and the strengthening relationship between the two countries.
“This project, which continues to show progress, is today registering another success story. While it is a success story for the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Nutrition, it is also a success story for every individual who will interface with the app,” Jn. Baptiste said.
He encouraged health officials to embrace the new skills they are learning, noting that technological competence is essential in an increasingly digital world.
Principal Nursing Officer in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Nutrition Julietta Cassius said the wound management module is particularly important in addressing complications associated with chronic diseases.
“We are aware that our amputation rate is going up,” she said. “We have our diabetics who are ending up in hospital in a critical state where they are left with no choice but to amputate, whether it’s the toe or leg. The launch of this tool today is not merely a symbol but is really going to have an impact on the care that we provide to the clients in the community.”
Since the first version of the i-Screen App was launched in October 2024, more than 23 000 people have been screened.
