Virgin Islands repped at Dominica health meeting

The region’s health priorities should include mental-health literacy, non-communicable diseases, investigative medicine and climate-change resilience, according to Health and Social Development Minister Vincent Wheatley.

Mr. Wheatley made the call during an Oct. 7-11 trip to Dominica, where he attended the 10th Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Council of Health Ministers as well as the 37th Pooled Procurement Services Policy Board Meeting, according to Government Information Services.

The meetings marked the end of Mr. Wheatley’s one-year chairmanship of the council of ministers, which he handed over to Cassanni Laville, Dominica’s minister of health, wellness and social services.

During his tenure in the position, Mr. Wheatley told his colleagues, the council explored approaches including reducing healthcare costs through more efficient pharmaceutical procurement.

“Looking ahead, I envision a Caribbean where cancer rates are significantly reduced, non-communicable diseases are on a steady decline, and where HIV, tuberculosis and cervical cancer are eradicated,” he said in his outgoing remarks. “I also see a future where mental health awareness is prioritised across all our communities. These goals may be ambitious, but they are certainly attainable, particularly if we continue investing in preventive healthcare.”

Resources needed

Mr. Wheatley acknowledged that achieving such goals will require substantial resources, but he said he is confident of success with the help of OECS pooled-procurement initiatives and continued collaboration.

“Access to healthcare — and, more importantly, quality healthcare — is a cause that I will continue to champion in my role as minister for health,” Mr. Wheatley said.

He also told his colleagues about the challenges associated with representing two sister islands in the Virgin Islands.

“Being from one of these islands myself, I am acutely aware of the challenges we face and even more cognisant of the importance of replicating the infrastructure and services across multiple inhabited islands to ensure access to healthcare for all our citizens,” he said.

Also during the meeting, Mr. Wheatley helped launch a series of OECS projects to combat noncommunicable diseases in partnership with the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization.

Mr. Wheatley was accompanied by his permanent secretary, Tasha Bertie.

Council’s purpose

The council’s main purpose is to “promote collaboration on health matters, improve healthcare systems, and address shared health challenges such as non-communicable diseases, mental health, and disaster preparedness,” according to GIS.

The body also works to ensure that national healthcare policies align with regional development goals across the OECS member states.