SVG needs oncologist – PM Gonsalves

The Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines is looking at ways in which it can strengthen the health sector of the country.

During the opening ceremony for the refurbished paediatric ward at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital {{more}}(MCMH) on Monday, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves expressed the need for the country to have an oncologist.

Gonsalves said there is no cancer specialist in St Vincent and the Grenadines, but it is necessary to have one, especially since it seems as if there are more persons needing treatment for cancer.

“We need to get one, even though we don’t have the facilities for chemotherapy and radiation,” Gonsalves said.

“We need to have an oncologist so that we can begin to identify the problems and lay the basis for persons to get the necessary treatment.”

The Prime Minister noted that there is a great concern among women, as more females are being treated for breast and cervical cancer.

Until there is an oncologist in place, Gonsalves has assured that existing staff members have been educating themselves on the growing developments in the field of cancer.

“The staff that we have here are learning and reading up on the matter and developing their own expertise,” he said.

“So, the picture which I’m painting is a practical and common sense approach to addressing the medical problems of our people.”(BK)