BASSETERRE, St Kitts – A total of 13 vehicles called “Triambuletes” - donated by an organisation in Dubai, India - were handed over to the Ministry of Health by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday (Feb. 7).
During the handing-over ceremony, Minister of Foreign Affair - the Hon. Patrice Nisbett - told those in attendance that the Government of St Kitts and Nevis established diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on June 16th 2010.
“In a joint agreement signed then, both governments agreed to promote cooperation between the two countries in political, economic, social, humanitarian, cultural and scientific areas based on the principles of the United Nations charter of international laws,” Nisbett said.
He added that during the visit by the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis - Rt. Hon. Denzil Douglas - who led a delegation to Dubai that year, an offer was made by the Women and Health Alliance International (WAHA) to donate these vehicles.
Nisbett said the three-wheeled vehicles were first piloted in Senegal, Africa to improve the healthcare for persons in the rural areas. The vehicles - he said - are highly durable, require low maintenance, are highly efficient and provide maximum patient privacy.
“The uses of these Triambuletes have been extended to continents such as Africa and the Caribbean,” the Minister outlined.
In accepting the donation, Minister of Health Hon. Marcella Liburd expressed thanks to the WAHA organization and the people of Dubai for the sterling donation to the health sector of the Federation.
“These Triambuletes as I said will give us a greater outreach in the communities and that is very important for us because we can take the health services more efficiently in these areas while assisting them with medical needs and issues.”
Of the 13 vehicles, Liburd said three would be deployed to Nevis while the other ten would be dispatched to communities around St Kitts.
