Nevis, West Indies. ?A Non-Tourist-Trap? Blog About Nevis.

Telehealth Seminar Participants

Basseterre, St. Kitts - Nevis
March 09, 2010 (CUOPM)

Two nationals of the Federation, Second Lieutenant Dr. Vance Gilbert and Dr. Giovanna Mathew-Mattener were among several participants who attended a Telehealth and Diabetes Seminar at the Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami, Florida.

Drs. Matthew and Mattener were among representatives from all seven RSS states who participated in the seminar held at the request from the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados, in which they partnered with the Florida State National Guard (FSNG) and the Regional Security Service (RSS).

The seminar included presentations from the University of Miami staff regarding areas of telehealth and diabetes.  Telehealth was added to the seminar to provide quick and cost effective means of consultation and research for RSS member state medical professionals.

The RSS participants visited several University of Miami locations, including the Diabetes Research Institute.  This emphasis was predicated upon the fact that diabetes is a widespread public health issue throughout the Eastern Caribbean region.

The other 10 persons from the RSS states participating  were: Captain Prince Ramsey and Captain Mikyla Frederick from Antigua and Barbuda; Captain Virgil Rene Best and Senior Medical Officer, Dr. Kenneth George from Barbados; Dr. Paul Ricketts from Dominica; Inspector Terrence Julien from Grenada; Principal Nursing Officer, Kurthney Surage and Dr. Ayo-Oluwa Adeola Adesanya from St. Lucia; Family Nurse Practitioner Carmina Walker, and Sergeant of Police, Ornan Jacobs from St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

As a consequence of this seminar, RSS personnel are better equipped to educate their members about the risk factors associated with diabetes. Those who act on this information via behavioral change will be able to reduce their likelihood of succumbing to this disease.

Dr. Paul Ricketts, Commonwealth of Dominica noted, the telehealth method of instruction demonstrated a new and cost effective approach to educating people about diabetes.

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St. Kitts - Nevis Fights HIV-AIDS

Basseterre, St. Kitts - Nevis
March 04, 2010 (SKNIS)

Residents of Old Road and surrounding communities are encouraged to take advantage of a National AIDS Secretariat initiative to find out their HIV/AIDS status.

Due to a request to have HIV testing done in the rural area, the National AIDS Secretariat instituted Community HIV Testing Days in 2008.  Residents of Old Road, in particular, are invited to come to the Old Road Community Centre on Thursday, March 18, 2010 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. to receive free and confidential HIV testing.  As customary the tests will be done by qualified Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) Providers, who provide advice before and after testing.

All persons who take advantage of the VCT will receive a $10.00 LIME Top Up when they return for their test results, which will be provided the same afternoon.  Attractions include a male condom placement competition, which can be entered by both male and females.  There will also be female condom and dental dam demonstrations.  Giveaways include promotional items such as key chains along with HIV/AIDS information.

If follow-up is necessary following the test result, individuals have access to a clinical care team whose members are professionally trained to deal with the issues that arrive from the communicable disease.

The team includes a gynecologist, pediatrician, internal medical specialist, senior pharmacist, lab manager, coordinator of community nursing who is also a trained VCT provider and an admission and discharge nurse at the Joseph N. France General Hospital to reinsure confidentiality.  Persons diagnosed with HIV also have access to a social worker, patient advocate, nutrition counselor and general medical practitioner, who is also the clinical care coordinator.  Should medication be necessary it is provided free of cost by the Ministry of Health.

Persons living in Old Road, in particular, are invited to come to the Old Road Community Centre on Thursday, March 18, 2010 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. to find out their HIV status.  All activities will be conducted with the strictest confidentiality.

Related posts:

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4. St. Kitts - Nevis Steps Up Fight On HIV/AIDS
5. St. Kitts - Nevis HIV/AIDS Campaign 2007 Gathers Momentum

James Daniel and His Daughter Ziana

Basseterre, St. Kitts - Nevis
February 25, 2010 (SKNIS)

Three toddlers from the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis have received free plastic surgery at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, Kingstown, St. Vincent, thanks to the networking efforts of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis.

Via its Ministry of Health, the Government investigated the possibility of partnering with the Government of St. Vincent through its children’s plastic surgery programme which takes place at the Memorial Hospital in partnership with the Children’s International Hospital based in Virginia.  Chief Medical Officer Dr. Patrick Martin told SKNIS that a preliminary visit was conducted by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Mr. Elvis Newton and himself.  He said the exploratory trip took place November 2009 and they learnt that the surgeons and nurses from the Children’s International Hospital journey to St. Vincent every two to three months to perform plastic surgery.  This he said, proved to be a good avenue for the Federation to partner with the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

As a result, a new partnership emerged and four children and their parents left the Federation last Saturday with the intention of repairing various physical imperfections.  The children who travelled were Stevencia Bowens, Kasaiah Herbert, Kassandra Simmonds and Ziana Daniel, however, only three were operated on.  The fourth procedure was postponed because the child did not meet the age requirement.

The children’s parents said that they had been informed of the free medical opportunity by the Chief Medical Officer.  Shawnette Herbert travelled with her son Kasaiah.  She thanked the Ministry of Social Development for its assistance and acknowledged the Government for the opportunity to improve her child’s life.

Similarly Marsha Bowens the mother of Stevencia; Shamika Bergan the mother of Kassandra; and James Daniel the father of Ziana; all were grateful for the free medical procedures which otherwise could have cost thousands of dollars.  Mr. Daniel, the only accompanying male guardian explained that his child’s mother was unable to make the trip because of certain obligations and so he felt it was his duty to travel with the child.

The children ranged in age from 8 months to four years.  The airplane tickets for the children were provided courtesy of the Ministry of Social Services while parents had to take care of their airfares and accommodation.  Dr. Martin explained that the programme is open to all children of St. Kitts and Nevis who simply need to be referred by the Government through the Ministry of Health.  He explained that the surgeons from the International University execute the plastic surgery procedures along with a surgeon resident to St. Vincent.  Similarly the nurses who care for the patients before and after the surgical procedures are from both the American and Vincentian hospitals.

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