SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES (Commonwealth Union)_ At a news conference on Tuesday (01 Nov), St. Clair Prince, the Minister of Health, Wellness, and the Environment for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), discussed the health issues that his country is now facing and how Taiwan is assisting to improve its medical capabilities.
The 2022 Global Health and Welfare Forum was held in Taiwan from October 30 to 31, and the Health Minister was there to attend. Academics, decision-makers, and scientists from around the world spoke about health issues and stressed the need for nations to work together to get ready for the next pandemic when it strikes, the minister added. In order to respond to a future pandemic, he continued, there must be better parity for vaccine accessibility and greater technological utilisation.
The minister claimed that non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, and asthma—all of which “have been the main killers” for Caribbean people—had a significant impact on SVG. However, he added that “Taiwan has been a tower of strength in this area”.
As a response, SVG has started a project to prevent diabetes that asks Taiwanese technical experts to collaborate with Vincentian medical specialists to determine how the country may do so.
Prince stated that the Health Ministry is ready for “a spike or two” after the removal of COVID guidelines ahead of the 2022–2023 cruise season as the Caribbean Island enters the post–pandemic era. He mentioned the establishment of isolation facilities across the nation, stating, “We will be ready” if a surge occurs.
Despite a poor vaccination rate, he claimed that there have not been any COVID-related deaths in recent months.
The infrastructure of the country’s healthcare system and health centres is now being updated, according to Prince. We must consider issues with governance, health resources, pharmaceuticals, human resources, resource delivery, and service expansion, he stated.
According to the Minister, this reform initiative, which will likely take five years to complete, is essential for SVG to maintain its resilience to climate change, natural disasters, and the emergence and re-emergence of chronic diseases. He also stated that Taiwan will support the country throughout the entire process. “We are unable to carry on as usual. We must reply in a timely manner, using current methods,” he said.
On the outskirts of the nation’s capital, Kingstown, SVG also intends to erect a brand-new, cutting-edge hospital, according to Prince. According to him, the ministry has so far secured about US$98 billion (NT$3.15 trillion).
The minister stated that Taiwan will offer medical training and conduct bilateral exchanges with Vincentian counterparts after the Arnos Vale Acute Care Hospital is finished in 2025.
A national health insurance programme was another idea Prince mentioned. Despite being a good project, the minister questioned if it would be viable given the small population of SVG.
It would only be more practical if it were made into a regional system, he claimed. He noted that the SVG parliament had just last week considered the issue and decided that working with other eastern Caribbean countries would be the best course of action.
