CATEGORY:HEALTH -------------------- EDITOR'S NOTE: This article represents the views, policies and vision of the New National Party (NNP) headed by Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell. The NNP has been in office since 1995 - for three consecutive terms. In the last general election, the NNP won 8 of the 15 seats that were contested. WITH GOOD HEALTH BEING the Bedrock of our very existence, the Government has paid particular attention to addressing our needs in the medical field. Government has developed a five year National Strategic Plan for Health, to deliver an improved service to all of Grenada. Under very difficult circumstances we have provided a wide range of medical and other preventative services to the people of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Going into a New Year it is good to know the state of our medical affairs, and that from a recovery standpoint 98% of our Health Centers and Medical Stations island-wide are fully operational and offer various types of services. In recent times the Ministry of Health and in particular the Government received high praise in its leadership with respect to the holistic development of Grenada's healthcare system in terms of services, professionalism, human resources development, and infrastructure. It is comforting to know that the healthcare service in Grenada has been significantly improved. However, we are conscious of the fact that there is room for further improvement. The following undertakings by the Ministry of Health are too important to fall under the category of being too numerous to mention: More than a hundred persons have benefited from the Wheel Chair Programme. The Miracle Eye Mission Programme was able to examine some six thousand (6,000) patients with some two thousand five hundred (2,500) receiving surgery in Cuba. With help from our Lions Club friends from Canada, the Vosh team from the USA, the Rotary Club, and Grenada Ministry of Health we provided medical eye care and eye glasses to hundreds of school children and adults. We continue to provide training to our Nurses, Doctors and other medical providers, in order to serve the people better. Numerous persons have received assistance under the Medical Assistance Programme. The Oncology Programme has a doctor visit once a month to give cancer diagnosis, care and treatment. The CHORES team comes in every six months to do surgery with particular focus on young children in Cardiology and Orthopedics, Physiotherapy, Speech-therapy and Prosthesis. Over the course of the year hundreds of persons have benefited from the Voluntary Counseling and Testing Programme for HIV. Generally, the awareness campaign has been effective. The Ministry provides medical support for our needy citizens who must travel abroad for treatment. A Noise Control Act is being implemented to address the problem with noise pollution. The Government has invested close to fifty thousand USD in new hospital equipment (Chest freezers, X-Ray Machine, and other equipment for the Accident & Emergency department etc.), the Mt. Rich Medical station was re-commissioned, Princess Alice Hospital was renovated, refurbishment works on Woburn medical station has commenced, expansion works on Mt. Pleasants medical station in Carriacou has commenced, work on the Mt Carmel medical station is in progress, the St. David's medical station is refurbished. The first phase of refurbishment works at The Richmond Home for the Aged has been completed and the facility re-commissioned, the first phase of the new Nurses Training School is completed and Nurses have a much more comfortable and education-friendly atmosphere where they will train for the next few years, the Laboratory department and services are upgraded, and the Second Phase of the Hospital project is underway. The Ministry of Health received 100% rating in its immunization program. Diabetes education has been taken to the schools. The Ministry's Administrative staff continues to undergo training and has developed a National Health Services Directory as well as a National Visitors Travel Advisory. Environmental Management Policy guidelines are being developed. The Ministry has strengthened relations with the World Heart Foundation. In the coming year (2007) a cancer center is to be established in Grenada in 2007. These are facts about the state of our Health Care System and due to its importance, it is not too numerous to mention. An area of our focus is on preventative measures to maintain good health. That way our Health Care System would be less taxed. We must remember that the mission of the Ministry of Health is to promote and provide healthcare services which are appropriate, accessible, equitable and sustainable by utilizing qualified and motivated staff, committed to professionalism and excellence. Our slogan is: "Count on us. We put Health First." Have a Healthy, Prosperous, and Productive 'New Year.'