The Ministry of Health joined in the observation of Breast Cancer Awareness Month today by wearing pink with the aim of bringing awareness.
Foundation Mixed School is now certified with Germ Busters!
The team from the Ministry of Health and the Central Board of Health Antigua and Barbuda visited the school as a part of the infection prevention campaign being carried out in collaboration with USAID Eastern and Southern Caribbean and UNICEF Eastern Caribbean .
Children are being taught the importance of handwashing, how to wash hands properly, cough and sneeze etiqutte and the importance of vaccination in the prevention of spreading germs and diseases.
Sunnyside Tutorial, Divine Academy and St. Anthony's Secondary School are the most recent beneficiaries of the germ buster campaign being held by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Central Board of Health Antigua and Barbuda, USAID Eastern and Southern Caribbean and UNICEF Eastern Caribbean.
The campaign is geared around teaching children how to prevent infections and the spread of diseases.
Cough and Sneeze Etiquette, Proper hand-washing and vaccination are the best ways to prevent the spread of diseases.
Another successful day for the Germ Busters!
Three additonal schools, Minoah Magnet, St Petere Academy and the Mary E Pigott Primary School are the most recent to benefit from the Germ Buster programme currently being carried out by the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Social Transformation and the Environment in collaboration with the Central Board of Health, USAID Eastern and Southern Caribbean and UNICEF Eastern Caribbean.
The children are being taught the importance of personal hygiene such as proper handwashing and cough etiquette with the aim of preventing the spread of germs and diseases.
The schools were also provided with children mask, adult mask and hand sanitizers as a part of the campaign.
The total number of schools benefitting from this initiative to date is 18.
The Ministry of Health, Wellness, Social Transformation and the Environment in collaboration with UNICEF Eastern Caribbean recently hosted an education day for Nurses on breastfeeding.
Irene B. Williams Secondary School looked so awesome in gold! Thank you for joining us and being so Bold in your Gold!
#childhoodcancerawareness
#beboldgogold
Let’s hear it for Sommah Martin!!
Her father Glentis Martin and his coworkers at Big Banana Antigua have shown up and showed out today in Sommah’s honor!
#ChildhoodCancerAwarenessMonth
#beboldgogold
The Parham Primary School, Potters Primary School and the Sir Luther Wynter preschool are the latest to benefit from the Germ Busters campaign being implemented by the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Social Transformation and the Environment in collaboration with the Central Board of Health, USAID Eastern and Southern Caribbean and UNICEF Eastern Caribbean .
The children are being taught hand etiquette, cough and sneeze etiquette and thrimportance of staying up up to date with vaccinations.
Go Germ Busters!
The Ministry of Health, Wellness, Social Transformation and the Environment hosted a focus group for breastfeeding mothers at the Tradewinds Hotel on Wednesday 27th September 2023.
Four additional schools benefited from the Germ Buster campaign currently being carried out by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with Central Board of Health, USAID and UNICEF.
(Antigua and Barbuda benefits from Insecticidal Resistance)
Vector Control Technicians and Laboratory Technicians attached to the Central Board of Health and the Dunbar’s laboratory are participating in an Insecticidal Resistance Workshop in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO).
The workshop is focusing on the use of insecticides as a key intervention to control mosquitoes and consequently prevent spread of arboviral diseases.
The objectives of the workshop is to establish trainers on the ground to continue training staff in the protocol for insecticidal resistance testing, develop protocols for the country and to produce results on insecticidal resistance in mosquito, eggs and larva.
As a result of this training session, the country’s capacity to conduct tests and provide the information about susceptibility of mosquitoes in Antigua and Barbuda will be improved.
PAHO/WHO Country Program Specialist for St. Lucia, Reynold Hewitt and PAHO/WHO International Consultant, Dr. Alexandra Wright are facilitating the training.
The team also met with Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Teri-ann Joseph.
In late July, two of our team members participated in the GCF Regional Dialogue and Workshop for Direct Access Entities (DAEs) in Latin America and the Caribbean held in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Christa-Joy Burton and Gita Gardner shared their experiences, participated in GCF bilaterals and peer-to-peer exchanges with regional colleagues, and gained additional knowledge on navigating GCF standards for accreditation, project development, and paradigm shift pathways.
The dialogue also included technical discussions on topics such as pipeline development, readiness proposals for climate investment planning, and adaptive management for grants.
The DOE-ATG has been an accredited entity to the GCF as a national Direct Access Entity (DAE) since 2017 and continues to work towards enhancing Antigua and Barbuda’s environment through its partnership with international climate funds.
The Ministry of Health, Wellness, Social Transformation and the Environment began the installation of vaccine solar refrigerators donated by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) with funding provided by the Government of Canada.
Three refrigerators were donated by the organization to the Ministry and will be placed within three clinics in Antigua and Barbuda.
These are the Villa Polyclinic, Bolans Clinic and the Hannah Thomas Hospital in Barbuda
The Minister of Health, Wellness, Social Transformation and the Environment, Sir Molwyn along with Director of the Department of Environment Ambassador Diann Black-Layne and Technical Officer, Vekash Khan visited Bendals, Parham and Swetes Clinics to view the progress of the installation of the PV Systems at these facilities.
The Department of Environment under the "Grid-interactive Solar PV systems for Schools and Clinics in Antigua and Barbuda" project equipped these facilities with solar and battery set up to assist in building their resilience; reducing their downtime in the case of a power outage.
With the istallation of these systems, should there be a natural disaster or grid outage, the clinics would be able to function under normal conditions.
These building were the first phase of the project and installation of the systems has been completed.
Six additional buildings will be outfitted with solar PV systems under the project.
The Minister of Health, Wellness, Social Transformation and the Environment, the honourable Sir Molwyn Joseph as well as Management and Staff bid farewell to Ms. Carol Mason, Principal Assistant Secretary on her final day of work today.
Ms. Mason served within the Goverment Sector for forty-one years, thirteen of which were spent at the Ministry of Health Headquarters from 2010 to 2023.
She also served at the Ministry of Works from 1982-1995 and the Prime Ministers Office from 1995 to 2010.
Health Minister - Sir Molwyn Joseph, Deputy Permanent Secretary - Janice Michael, Principal Assistant Secretary - Desiree Akez, Acting Chief Medical Officer - Dr. Teri-Ann Joseph, Director of Pharmaceutical Services - Alfred Athill were among the members of staff to wish her well as she sails off into her retirement.
She was presented with a plaque and a bouquet of flowers for her sterling contribution to the Ministry over the years.
The Ministry of Health, Wellness, Social Transformation and the Environment in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) recently completed a Mass Casualty Management Training Programme.
Fifty persons to include, Doctors, Nurses, Police, Fire Officers, Defence Force Soldiers and Navy, Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians and Emergency Medical Technicians, Officers attached to the National Officer of Disaster Services, Antigua Barbuda Airport Authority, Antigua Port Authority and other departments within the Ministry of Health and the government.
The training, which lasted a period of 6 days was facilitated by Peter Burgeuss of PAHO.
It focused on areas such as planning for mass casualty incidents, the alert process, scene assessment and reporting, field organization, communication techniques, different stages of triage, overview of the incident command system and psychological first aid.
In addition to the theoretical part of the course, a practical component was also involved.
The persons who successfully passed the course will be provided with a Mass Casualty Management certificate from PAHO which will be valid for three years.
The Central Board of Health is now better equipped to prepare burial sites at the Public Cemetery and Valley Road Cemetery with the purchase of a new backhoe which was purchased by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda.
The equipment was handed over to the Permanent Secretary within the Ministry,, Mrs. Ena Dalso-Henry on June 19th, 2023 at the Department of Environment.
Also in attendance were the Acting Chief Health Inspector, David Matthery and Senior Public Health Inspector, Julienne Mannix.
Hon Sir. Molwyn Joseph attends INC-2 high level event to end plastic pollution from May 26-27th
Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of the Environment Sir Molwyn Joseph has proposed an eight-point strategy that he envisions will reinforce the commitment and accelerate the drive to end plastic pollution across the globe by 2040.
House to house inspection with students from New Winthorpes Primary School
The Ministry of Health, Wellness, Social Transformation and the Environment would like to thank the Peoples Republic of China for a donation of Personal Protective Equipment.
The donated materials include 50,000 medical masks and 1000 sets of protective clothing valued at an estimated ECD$40,000. The equipment is to be used in the prevention and control of COVID-19.
Health Minister, the honourable Sir Molwyn Joseph received the donation on behalf of the Ministry from H.E. Mme Zhang Yanling, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Antigua and Barbuda.
Antigua and Barbuda was represented at the 28th OECS/PPS (Organization of Eastern Caribbean States Pharmaceutical Procurement System) Tenders Committee meeting by Ms. Keriann Benjamin (Procurement/Central Stores Manager, MBS) and Mrs. Sandra Jonas-Margetson (Inventory Manager, MBS) and the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting by Dr. Oritta Zachariah, Medical Officer of Health, Ministry of Health. The meetings were held in St. Lucia at the Bel Jou Hotel from May 8-13 2023.
A three-day workshop on Social and Behaviour Change Communication being hosted by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with UNICEF Eastern Caribbean /USAID came to an end on Friday 12th May, 2023.
Officials from the Pan American Health Organization met with Minister of Health, Wellness, Social Transformation and the Environment, Sir Molwyn Joseph today to discuss plans for Cervical Cancer Elimination.
The discussion included the scale up of Cervical Cancer Screening here in Antigua and Barbuda now that the HPV Screening pilot programmed concluded.
In photo: Dr. Mauricio Marza, Regional Advisor for Cancer Prevention and Control PAHO/WHO, Dr. Gemma Chery PAHO/WHO Country Program Specialist ATG, Dr. Teri-Ann Joseph Acting Chief Medical Officer and members of the Cervical Cancer team.
Ministry of Health, Wellness, Social Transformation, and Environment headquarters staff participated in Sneaker Move
Nurses Week at SLBMC kicks off with our Mindfulness Meditation Session.
Antigua and Barbuda joined the rest of the Americas in observing Vaccination Week of the America's 2023. The week is being observed this year from April 22nd to April 29th.
The ministry of Health, Wellness, Social Transformation and the Environment in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization held an opening ceremony today at the Ministry's headquarters on Lower High and Long Streets.
This year, the theme of the week is Get up to date #EachVaccineCounts and the aim is to reach more than 92 million people across the Region with life-saving vaccines.
The Ministry of Health, Wellness, Social Transformation and the Environment would like to contratulate Raenor Sharpe on successfully completing his Bachelor of Science in Optometry at the University of Guyana.
Sharpe attended the University from 2018 to 2022.
In addition to successfully completing his course, Sharpe was more recently recognized for this exceptional academic performance as the Best Graduating Optometry Student from the Optometry Program offered at the University's College of Medical Sciences at a ceremony held at the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown, Guyana on March 6, 2023.
He is now eager to return to Antigua and Barbuda's shores to continue serving his fellow countrymen as a qualified Optometrist.
Machinery arrived for the Waste to Product aspect of the Plastic Waste Free Island (PWFI) project. Funded by NORAD and managed by IUCN.
Love your kidneys! By keeping your kidneys as healthy as possible you can reduce the risk of kidney disease. Make small lifestyle changes today.
Our thanks to the Rotary Club of Antigua Sundown for their recent donation of 5 wheelchairs to our hospital.
Safe flight to our heart warrior Zoudiera Jackson as she flies to Miami Florida for a follow up on the surgeries she had on her heart last year.
The Cervical Cancer Taskforce in collaboration with the Ministry of Health would like to congratulate Angelique Francis and Noah Yeboah on their entries for this years Cervical Cancer Awareness Month T-Shirt Competition.
Francis created this years winning design while Yeboah was the first runner up.
Both children received a t-shirt and a cap with the winning design from last year courtesy of the Task Force and a gift certificate from Paper Clips.
In addition, the winner got a RCA tablet courtesy of Cool and Smooth. Cool and Smooth also sponsored wireless earbuds for the first runner up.
President of the Cervical Cancer Taskforce, Dr. Cherie Tulloch made the presentation to the students.
The DOE with the support of the SLIM project and @megapowerantigua has donated EV charging stations to ABICE and Antigua State College. This donation will support the building of local capacity to maintain and install EV charging stations.
Follow the DOE social media pages for more updates on the SLIM project!
The Ministry in collaboration with PAHO/WHO made a donation of a wheel chair to Mrs. Nalda Cornelius-Isaac.
Mrs Cornelius-Isaac, a public servant who is experiencing some physical challenges requested assistance from the Ministry via the Permanent Secretary Ena Dalso-Henry who was happy to assist.
The wheelchair was presented by the Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Alfred Athill and PAHO's Country Program Specialist, Dr. Gemma Cherry to her daughter, Ms. Keisha Isaac.
The Ministry of Health, Wellness, Social Transformation and the Environment would like to thank the Rotary Club of Antigua Sundown for their timely donation of medical equipment and supplies.
President of the Rotary Club of Antigua Sundown, Nircree Jno-Baptiste as well as other members of the organization handed over the supplies valued at over USD$100,000 to health officials at the Infectious Disease Control Centre to health officials.
The Ministry was represented by Deputy Permanent Secretary - Janice Michael, Director of Pharmaceutical Services - Alfred Athill and Medical Officers of Health - Oritta Zachariah and Jonathan McComie.
Ariel April visited Minister of Health, Wellness, Social Transformation and Environment, Sir Molwyn Joseph to thank him for playing a key role in her life through her eyes.
Sir Molwyn was instrumental in making provisions for Ariel to see an Ophthalmologist after noticing she had a severe case of Strabismus (cross-eye).
Further, he also ensured that Ariel was provided with a pair of spectacles which has already began to correct her strabismus.
To show her appreciation, Ariel created a personalized thank you card detailing her gratitude for his intervention which has improved her way of life through her eyes.
The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment recently partnered with Mindful Movement and Belmont Studios to create Public Service Announcements that will be used by frontline workers to de-stress from the stresses of the job.
We would like to thank the frontline workers who participated in the sessions.
They were Nurse Shenelle Benjamin, Paramedic Brandon Brown and Emergency Medical Technicians Dante Simon and Kyle Tomlinson.
We would also like to thank the owners of Ana's on the Beach for allowing us to use the restaurant as the backdrop for the campaign!
The Antigua Barbuda Emergency Medical Services Staff Appreciation and Awards 2022
The awards given were:
Rookie of the Year, Most motivated to Learn, Most improved EMT, Best Attendance, Best Dispatcher, EMT of the Year, And a staff choice award.
Keifer Southwell has been awarded the Employee of the Year 2022 for his hard work and dedication to the Antigua Barbuda Emergency Medical Services.
Permanent Secretary, Ena Dalso-Henry provided Southwell with his plaque at the ABEMS Staff Appreciation and Awards Ceremony at the Avec Amour in Buckley's this evening.
Quality Assurance Supervisor, Tundae Bruce also presented Southwell with a gift basket for his assistance.
