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Mr Halva Hendrickson presenting the bus key to Dr Judy Nisbett |
Charlestown Nevis (May 9, 2005) -- The Public Health Department District (Nursing Section) in the Nevis Island Administration, Monday received a brand new Toyota Hiace bus from valued at EC$55,000.00 (duty free) from the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board.
The new chairman of the Social Security, Mr Halva Hendrickson, in handing over the bus said that in Social Security they believe that prevention is better than cure, and therefore, the best thing to do is to prevent something from happening, rather than having to go through secondary, and tertiary level care.
So we are very happy in terms of making a small contribution towards the prevention of diseases in Nevis, commented Mr Hendrickson, who was on his first official function in Nevis. Social Security has always tried very hard over the years to fund worthy causes in the health sector in both St. Kitts and Nevis, and so when the proposal came for us to fund this project, we were very happy to oblige.
The ceremony, which was held at the Charlestown Health Centre, was chaired by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Gender and Social Development, Mr St. Clair Wallace, who said that Social Security had responded to their request for a new bus within two weeks.
The handing over of this vehicle this morning could not have been at a more appropriate and timely occasion than now, as today, the 9th of May marks the commencement of Nurses Week of celebration, said Mr Wallace as he thanked Social Security for being receptive to the ministrys needs.
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| Mrs Sephlin Lawrence (right, holding mike) addressing the ceremony. Mr Hendrickson is immediately behind her, and to her right are (front row only) Mr Stanley Franks, Hon Jean Harris, Dr Judy Nisbett and Mrs Jenevie Daniel. |
The keys to the new bus were handed over to Dr Judy Nisbett, Medical Officer in charge of the Public Health Department District, who said that the bus would assist the Community Health Nursing Division in achieving its programmes.
She observed that apart from the usual distribution of stores, such as immunisations and food to the malnourished children within the community, we envision that the bus will be used to take laboratory services into the community, to assist those unable to journey into the main laboratory at the Alexandra Hospital.
According to Dr Nisbett, the bus would also be used to take pharmacy services out into the community, so as to assist those persons who find it difficult to journey in Charlestown to fill their prescription, and for care of the mentally ill in the event that nurses would have to transport a mentally ill person into the hospital and this would be done in a safe manner.
Speaking at the function were the Director of the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board, Mrs Sephlin Lawrence, who said that it was their pleasure to enhance health service in the Federation, and the Minister of Health, Gender and Social Development in the Nevis Island Administration, the Hon Jean Harris.
Minister Harris described the handing over ceremony as a historic moment, as I spent over twenty years in Public Health (as a nurse) and there was never a vehicle that was assigned to public health, the nursing section. Today we are very gracious and grateful to Social Security for this new bus.
The ceremony was witnessed by board members and staff of the Social Security from Nevis and St. Kitts, including Mr. Steve Wrensford, Mr Stanley Franks, Mr Frank Farrell, Mr Elvin Bailey, Mr Vernel Powell, and Ms Leslie Warner, and senior nursing staff in the Public Health of the Nevis Island Administration.
