Two Public Health Nurses (PHN), attached to the Ministry of Health in Grenada, have been sent on a two week assignment to the Turks and Caicos Islands to render public health assistance to the Government and People of that country, following its devastation by Hurricane Ike earlier this month. Nurses Olive Courtney and Diana Stanisclaus left Grenada on Sunday September 28th for the Grand Turk as part of an initiative organized by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), in the Ministry of Health , Ms. Nester Edwards says the Ministry heeded the call to render such assistance by offering two nurses for the two week mission. She said missions like these should not be turned down, since it is the norm for persons, countries and organizations to come together to assist each other in times of disaster. Edwards added that during the two week assignment, the two Grenadian nurses will undertake several public health initiatives including disease surveillance, maternal and child health issues and other issues relating to public health on a larger scale. Nurse Courtney who is attached to the St. George’s Health District has over ten years experience as a public health nurse while Stanisclaus, who is attached to the St. John’s/St. Mark’s Health District has just over five years in that discipline. The two Grenadian nurses will join a number of public health nurses, from across the region as part of this special assignment. On September 6, 2008 category 4 Hurricane Ike, slammed into the Grand Turks and Caicos islands causing more than 80% of damages to the island’s housing stock in the South. Contact: Keville Frederick Ministry of Health 473-440-2649 kkev_2@msn.com Contact: Keville Frederick Information & Media Relations Officer Ministry of Health Ministerial Complex - Botanical Gardens St. George’s, Grenada Tel: (473) 440-2649 / Fax (473) 440-4127 Email: kkev_2@msn.com