St Helena : Successful Health Visit
Submitted by Saint Helena Herald (Juanita Brock) 31.01.2007 (Article Archived on 14.02.2007)
The Public Health and Social Service Department has just concluded a week of meeting’s with Carolyn Sunners, Health Advisor for the Department For International Development, and Rupert Haydock, Chief Executive of NI-CO. Carolyn and Rupert were on Island from 13 to 20 January 2007.
Press Release
Successful Health Visit
The Public Health and Social Service Department has just concluded a week of meeting’s with Carolyn Sunners, Health Advisor for the Department For International Development, and Rupert Haydock, Chief Executive of NI-CO. Carolyn and Rupert were on Island from 13 to 20 January 2007.
Carolyn has been to St Helena previously but this was Rupert’s first visit. Before becoming Chief Executive he spent seven years working with DFID and has been Chief Executive of NI-CO since July 2000.
The purpose of the visit was for Carolyn to assess a number of projects DFID has funded within the Public Health and Social Services Department. This included Health Link II valued at over £5m, Nurse Education, and the Support Nurse Project.
Chief Administrative Health and Social Services Officer, Ivy Ellick, OBE, said: “We scored an overall rating of two, one being the highest and as the health programme is in its last year, I think this was a very good achievement. Overall I feel that it was a successful visit.”
The department also held separate meetings with Carolyn to discuss future funding for the department and to consider what should succeed Health Link II. Health Link II, currently managed by NI-CO, will come to an end on 31 March this year and Ivy said that the department is hoping that, after managing Health Link one and two so well, the department will secure continued financial support from DFID.
Health Link has provided a lot for the Island including the recruitment of doctors, and various short-term consultants, the replacement and sourcing of new equipment and more health related necessities. Ivy said that the department has considered its future needs and Terms of Reference for the next programme is being put together for the St Helena Government and DFID to consider and approve.
Senior managers have discussed this proposal and were also able to meet with Carolyn and Rupert to talk about other key issues relevant to their sections. This also provided opportunity for the consultants to see the various sections.
Ivy said that the Department also held good discussions on budgetary issues, changing demographics and care of the elderly during which Dr Sunners was made aware of the need to expand the Community Care Complex which will not be big enough to accommodate the number of elderly people requiring full time residential care. The current complex will accommodate 42 people but the department would like for this to be expanded to cater for another 20 beds. DFID will consider this proposal.
DFID also agreed to provide the Island with £25,000 to assist the Sexual Health/HIV and AIDS Strategy in raising awareness. The programme is expected to commence shortly and will be pioneered by the Sexual Health Strategy Group who will initiate various educational promotions, which will enhance activities such as a more effective way of distributing condoms.
Public Relations/Information Office
Office of the Chief Secretary
31 January 2007
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