Saint George’s, Grenada. August 29, 2023. The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) recently conducted a mission to Grenada during July 24-28th 2023, to undertake an integrated Communicable Diseases assessment of the country’s public health systems. The CARPHA team conducted this exercise with the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Religious Affairs, Grenada with funding from the World Bank, and the European Union.
Technical officers from CARPHA conducted multiple assessments to evaluate the systems and policy measures currently being implemented by Grenada's health sector to mitigate threats to human health. The areas evaluated included communicable diseases, mortality, environmental health, laboratory systems, tourism, and health. The mission was headed by Dr. Horace Cox, Assistant Director - Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control and Head of Vector Borne Diseases at CARPHA.
During the assessment, the CARPHA team held discussions with senior officers from the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Religious Affairs, including Dr. Shawn Charles, Chief Medical Officer, Mrs. Naomi Jeremiah, Permanent Secretary, with responsibility for Strategic and Operational Management of the General Hospital and Subsidiary Hospitals, Mount Gay Psychiatric Hospital and the Richmond Home and Community Health Services, and Ms. Larissa Mark, National Epidemiologist.
Field visits were conducted at the General and Princess Alice Hospitals in the Parishes of Saint George and Saint Andrew respectively; and several health facilities across the island including Saint David’s, Grand Bras, Sauteurs and Saint George’s Health Centres; Gouyave Polyclinic; Westerhall, Crochu and Paradise Medical Stations.
The World Bank, through the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Regional Health Project, provided funding for this mission, with the exception of the Vector Borne Disease component which was funded by the European Union.
The team also met with staff of various divisions within the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Religious Affairs; as well as officials from the Grenada Hotel and Tourism Association, and the Grenada Tourism Authority.
In addition to the assessments, CARPHA conducted a presentation on sample collection and testing for vector borne diseases for Community Health Nurses. The Team also participated in Grenada Shifts; an initiative aimed at encouraging citizens across the island to engage in physical activity. At a brief handover ceremony, CARPHA presented Dr. Shawn Charles, Chief Medical Officer, with a set of the CARICOM Regional Hospitality Health Safety Standards.
Grenada is one of four (4) beneficiary countries of the OECS Regional Health Project. The other countries are the Commonwealth of Dominica, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The Project seeks to enhance the National Health System and Health Security of these countries.
About the OECS Regional Health Project: https://carpha.org/Projects/Ongoing-Projects/OECS- Regional-Health-Project.
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