My 2024 Healthcare Wish List for St Vincent and the Grenadines – Part 1

Unfortunately, this and my upcoming articles will be viewed through the political prism.

Regrettably, most public utterances in SVG are. The exclusive intention of these and all of my articles is to optimize the health of my fellow and beloved Vincentians.

Duty Free sanitary products (pads, tampons, etc.) for all women and free for school girls

Conceptualize a SVG where every menstruating female can have considerably improved access to sanitary products. Ultimately improving self-management of their menstrual flow. This translates into reduced absenteeism from both school and work while improving self-confidence, self-esteem, and economic well-being.

I’ve been informed by secondary school teachers that not being able to afford sanitary products is one of the leading reasons for girls’ absenteeism from school. We must put an end to this travesty.

Making this concept a reality can be facilitated by:

• Service clubs
• Business community
• Government – Education, Health, and Finance
• International agencies – UNICEF, World Bank

Health tourism wing should be incorporated into Arnos Vale Acute Referral Hospital (AVARH)

At any moment now, the construction of the AVARH is expected to begin. According to reports, the construction phase is likely to last 30-36 months. The funding for the construction of the facility is in place, however, my concern is where is the longitudinal funding for the operational phase of the AVARH coming from.

For funds have to be found for:

• Salaries
• Professional fees
• Medical supplies
• Food
• Medicines
• Utilities
• Laboratory reusables
• Stationary
• Medical and nonmedical equipment maintenance
• Ambulance and other vehicular maintenance
• Building and grounds maintenance
• Training
• Travel
• Miscellaneous

I’m humbly suggesting that we look at inviting an internationally recognized and respected health tourism provider to partner with us in this venture.

Once a successful amalgamation is operational, the income generated from health tourism can be used to cover the running expenses of the AVARH.

Health tourism will also benefit SVG via:

• Increased tourist arrivals. Health tourist are often accompanied by family.
• Housing for overseas healthcare professionals.
• Visiting specialists helping Vincentians get into overseas training programs.
• Improved access for Vincentians to top-class healthcare
• Many other areas

Psychiatrists are urgently needed

Psychiatrists play an integral role in any country’s health and well-being. The absence of adequate, much less basic psychiatric services in a country undermines its overall mental and, by extension, public health. Without timely and appropriate psychiatric intervention, many treatable psychiatric conditions, especially in our youth, can mushroom out of control. This frequently culminates in:

• Lifelong disability
• Substance abuse
• Reduced productivity
• Unemployment
• Homelessness
• Unhealthy family dynamics
• Poor general health
• Premature death
• Violence
• Murder
• Suicide
• Penal incarceration
• Permanent imprisonment in our mental institution

Untreated mental illness not only has an impact on the person with the illness but also their family and the entire society.

Embrace overseas Vincentian healthcare professionals

Within the diaspora, several Vincentian healthcare professionals are willing to lend a helping hand to their country of birth. Below are two examples:

1. Physiatrist: This is a medical doctor who specializes in physical medicine, rehabilitation, and pain management. There is a semi-retired Vincentian physiatrist who’s indicated to me that he’s willing to return home, at least part-time, to help maximize the functionality of stroke victims, amputees, those with chronic pain, and those suffering from other physical disabilities.

2. Radiographer: A radiographer is a medical technician who operates machines that perform ultrasounds, x-rays, mammograms, CT scans, MRIs, etc. I ran into a Vincentian who is the department head at one of the leading cancer treatment centres in the USA.
He indicated that he could help source top-quality radiographic equipment at considerably reduced prices for SVG.
While sharing only two examples, I’m aware of other Vincentian healthcare professionals in the diaspora who are willing to help SVG in their respective areas of expertise.

Children absent from school for two days or more should receive medical clearance before re-entering school

Many respiratory, gastrointestinal, and skin infections are readily and unintentionally spread by children. Here in St. Vincent, children with these communicable illnesses are generally kept home initially, however, when the child returns to school is at the discretion of the parents, guardians, and in some instances their teacher. Unfortunately, the child may return to school while they are still infectious, exposing other children and teachers to infectious agents.
Mandating that the child is certified medically fit to return to their classroom will significantly reduce the spread of these infectious agents.

Feedback boxes in all government-run health facilities

Here in SVG, many dedicated healthcare workers turn up for work every day and give their all and more. Unfortunately, some, including doctors and nurses, turn up for work with little intention of meeting their patients’ basic needs.

The feedback box should be prominently located in all healthcare facilities. Next to the feedback box should be sheets with questions and corresponding multiple-choice answers.

The answers provided are used to:

• Assess the quality of care received
• Identify where improvements are needed
• Determine patient satisfaction
• Ascertain the degree of engagement between the health care provider and patient
• Reward those who go beyond their call of duty
• Facilitate the training, censuring, and disciplining of healthcare workers who provide substandard patient care.

Author: Dr. C. Malcolm Grant – Family Physician, c/o Family Care Clinic, Arnos Vale. Former tutor, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados. For appointments: clinic@familycaresvg.com, 1(784)570-9300, (Office), 1(784)455-0376
(WhatsApp)

Disclaimer: The information provided in the above article is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. Dr. C. Malcolm Grant, Family Care Clinic or The Searchlight Newspaper or their associates, respectively, are not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information provided above.