Monday, November 16 – Strategies for achieving the Government’s broad agenda for health and social development were discussed at an all-day meeting last Friday.
This came as the Ministry of Health and Social Development commenced its second annual Planning Day, which was attended by the Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Dancia Penn, OBE, QC.
During her opening remarks the minister underscored the importance of work while reciting from ‘The Prophet’, which is a book of 26 poetic essays written by the late Lebanese writer Khalil Gibran. “We all have different roles to play. It is incumbent on each of us to work diligently in our respective roles to make sure that we deliver,” the minister said.
Honourable Penn also reminded the staff about their responsibility to respond to the needs of all people of the Territory, and not only those of particular individuals. “When we sit in our offices we must think about the people out there who are contributing to the security that we have of our salary and of having something to do each day,” she said.
Acting Permanent Secretary Mrs. Petrona N. Davies stressed the importance of a plan of action to truly determine the ministry’s output. . “As we reflect on the last 12 months we will note accomplishments of which we can all be proud, milestones attained that set the stage for greater successes in the future, and testimonies of lives touched as a result of our collective best effort,” she said.
On the other hand, added the Acting Permanent Secretary, there are goals and objectives that have not yet been met while others are not as significantly advanced as we had hoped. “We work hard from day-to-day, but it is hard to demonstrate what impact we are having without monitoring our performance against measurable targets and deliverables,” said Mrs. Davies.
Planning Day was attended by managers, heads of departments, and other senior ministry staff. It featured a number of presentations and ‘buzz groups’ that brainstormed ways of strengthening the ministry’s output.
Topics included child protection services and probation, gender, ageing and the elderly, disability services, mental health and substance abuse, environmental health and solid waste management, prevention and control of chronic non-communicable diseases, prevention and control of infectious diseases, health sector management, and infrastructural development.
Additional sessions will be held before the end of this year, when issues related to health and social development will be addressed in separate forums.
The Ministry of Health and Social Development aspires to provide leadership that promotes health, social wellbeing, and a safe environment as positive resources for living and sustainable development of the Territory.
British Virgin Islands News