|
|
|
|
Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM |
Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville addressing members of the Grand Bahama Medical and Dental Association. Below is a portion of the large audience attending the opening ceremonies. (BIS Photos / Simon Lewis)
|
Freeport, The Bahamas - Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville said Thursday that despite the large sums of monies recently spent on upgrades to the Rand Memorial Hospital by the former administration that the Progressive Liberal Party Government is committed to building a new state of the art hospital in Grand Bahama.
Mr. Darville, also the elected Member of Parliament for Pineridge, was addressing members of the Grand Bahama Medical and Dental Association during the opening of their 12th Annual Medical Conference October 4 at the Pelican Bay Resort.
He began his remarks by telling the gathering that as the Minister for Grand Bahama and family physician, who has practiced in the community for many years, he was delighted to be a part of the occasion, which he said demonstrates the association’s commitment to training and the transference of knowledge while addressing pressing issues concerning women’s health and longevity.
The Conference has as its theme: Woman’s Health – The Heart of the Matter.
Dr. Darville told those assembled that “today marks an important milestone for all of us in the healthcare profession on Grand Bahama.
“As policy makers in this administration set out to review the contents of our current medical act, recommendations will certainly be made for all licensed physicians within The Bahamas Medical Council to participate in continuing medical education as part of the requirements for the renewal of all licenses going forward.
“This shift in policy will ensure that we all stay current with changes in clinical practice while creating some form of consistency in our approach to patient needs,” he stated
Continuing, he informed his colleagues that the explosion of non-communicable diseases throughout our country, coupled with escalating healthcare costs, calls for all public health care practitioners to remain focused on training and retraining, particularly at the primary healthcare level.
“We must also mount an aggressive preventative strategy to ensure that we improve health care delivery from Sweetings Cay to West End.
“We must certainly fight to save this generation and the ones to follow through preventative strategies and aggressive consistent medical education, which will certainly reduce the incidents of mobility and mortality brought about by diseases associated with lifestyles.
“As a government we must visit our bread basket items and all ministries must synergistically work together to lower the cost of wholesome foods throughout this country giving Bahamians affordable choices. This must be a part of the national preventative plan going forward and let me assure you that this administration is committed to doing so,” he said.
He also told the gathering that they must all be mindful that the delivery of quality health care services is an expensive business and therefore, as healthcare professionals they must collectively address inadequacies in our public healthcare system, prevent wastage while providing quality but cost effective health care services to all the residents of Grand Bahama irrespective of race, class or socioeconomic background.
“There is no question that the residents of Grand Bahama have outgrown the Rand Memorial Hospital and if the truth be told, despite the upgrades done by the last administration, the facility is still lacking and does not meet the necessary requirements to implement the government plans for state of the art health care delivery or provide the vehicle to drive a lucrative medical tourism product.
“Therefore in response to our research and findings, this administration is committed to constructing a new state of the art hospital on Grand Bahama during our term in office, using Bahamian contractors while upgrading all existing clinics on Grand Bahama,” he said.
Dr. Darville also took time out to acknowledge the contributions made by former Health Minister, Dr. Marcus Bethel during their last administration (2002-2007), in finding property to build the new hospital.
The Grand Bahama Minister also assured those assembled that “this government is commitment to National Health Insurance and we are driving policies to ensure it is implemented during this term in office.
“The health and safety of Grand Bahamians is paramount to this administration and as Minister for Grand Bahama, I am certainly committed to lead the charge to ensure that the residents of this community have access to modern, state of the art medical facilities that are adequately staffed with trained medical professionals,” he stated.
He informed the gathering just this year, as part of their administration’s commitment to doubling the investment in education some sixty scholarships were awarded to medical students and other healthcare providers as part of their plan to prepare for the expansion at both the Rand Memorial and the Princess Margaret Hospital.
This he said was done while increasing funding for training nurses and other healthcare professionals in order to meet the demands for the current upgrades and improvement of medical infrastructure in Nassau and the construction of a new hospital on Grand Bahama.
Continuing, Dr. Darville told the health care providers that as Minister for Grand Bahama, it is his mandate to ensure that medical infrastructure for Grand Bahama is advanced “and I assure you that I am firmly committed to accomplish this important mandate.
“So I invite you all to continue to partner with The Ministry of Health and The Ministry for Grand Bahama in the fight to control and alleviate all forms of diseases that are threatening the lives of Grand Bahamians, especially our women,” he said.
© Copyright 2012 by thebahamasweekly.com
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
