Health Ministry Officials take Part in Planning Forum  

Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Development Ms. Petrona Smith (standing) was among the facilitators at the 2008 Strategic Planning and Budgeting Session on Friday, 19 September

The meeting’s agenda included an overview of strategic planning and strategic budgeting in the context of public service reform; a summary of the Ministry’s Strategic Plan 2008-2011; and reviews of Government’s health and social policy agendas towards defining the ministry’s 2009 strategic priorities and initiatives. 

Minister of Health and Social Development Honourable Dancia Penn, OBE, QC also attended last Friday’s planning session where in her opening remarks she outlined the Government’s vision and strategic priorities in the areas of health and social policy.

Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Development Ms. Petrona Smith told the Department of Information and Public Relations that the response was very positive. “Our leadership team is very committed to ensuring that Government has the best product at the end of the day. Last Friday’s strategic planning session gave the entire Ministry Group an opportunity to better understand each other’s work and to identify opportunities for closer collaboration. For that reason it was very beneficial and informative,” she said.     ~~Adz:Right~~

The acting Permanent Secretary also noted that the session was an opportunity for the Minister to meet her leadership team across the Ministry Group to discuss the strategic direction of the ministry for the next three years, in addition to begin the process of identifying priorities areas for resource allocation in the coming year.

“The meeting offered an opportunity for the Minister to speak with department heads and senior managers together and to examine Government’s agenda in an attempt to determine how senior staff can translate Cabinet’s vision for health and social policy into action,” Ms. Smith said.

Departments, units and divisions represented during the strategic planning session included Social Development, Solid Waste, Health Promotion, Environmental Health, Adina Donovan Home for the Elderly, the Sandy Lane Centre, Office of Gender Affairs, and the National AIDS Programme. Several senior officers from within the ministry also participated in the strategic planning session, which was held at the Public Service Training Centre at the Training Division.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development aims to provide leadership that promotes health, social well-being, and a safe environment as positive resources for living and sustainable development. Among other functions, it is responsible for protecting and promoting the health and social development of the people of Territory.