MEDICAL SERVICES NOW AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS OF CONAREE AS DISTRICT MEDICAL OFFICE OPENS THERE

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, August 1, 2018 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – Tuesday, July 31, marked a historic day for the health sector in St. Kitts and Nevis, as the Team Unity Government followed up the re-commissioning of the Dental Clinic and re-establishment of EMT/ambulance services at the Mary Charles Hospital with the official opening of the Ministry of Health District Medical Office in Conaree Village.The District Medical Office is located at the Conaree Community Centre and will be operated twice weekly by District Medical Officer, Dr. Maria Warner.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Hazel Laws, noted that the rationale behind opening the medical office in Conaree is to improve access to healthcare services to more than one thousand residents of Conaree and its surrounding environs.

Dr. Laws stated, “Previously, persons from this community had to travel 2.4 miles to the Newtown Health Centre or 3.6 miles to St. Peter’s Health Centre or 3.9 miles to Cayon Health Centre in order to access primary healthcare services. The aim is to bring essential health services to your doorstep and to eliminate transportation and other indirect costs.”

Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris used the occasion to commend the Minister of Health, the Honourable Eugene Hamilton, and Minister of State within the Ministry of Health, Senator the Honourable Wendy Phipps, for their work and dedication to the transformation of the health sector in the Federation.

“The journey for healthcare continues in a progressive way under the Team Unity administration. For that I give credit, strong support and commendation to the leadership of Senator Wendy Phipps, who deals with the day to day management of health programmes and commitments, and I thank her and commend her for the meticulous way in which we have been able to effect successes in the delivery and upgrade of healthcare,” Dr. Harris stated.

Prime Minister Harris, who is the lead head in the Quasi CARICOM Cabinet with responsibility for Human Resource Development, Health and HIV, reinforced the point that his Government will continue to do what is necessary to ensure that affordable primary healthcare services are available to all.

“We believe that for the country to move forward we need healthy people; we need people who are fit to work; they need take care of themselves so they are able to make their productive contribution to the betterment and advancement of St. Kitts and Nevis,” Dr. Harris continued, while noting that the “notion and philosophy of healthcare for all is being realized today.”

The District Medical Office at the Conaree Community Centre will be opened on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am-1pm.

Photo: Minister of Health, the Hon. Eugene Hamilton hands over keys to the new District Medical Office in Conaree to District Medical Officer, Dr. Maria Warner.