New Health Minister opens $2.5M Tabaquite health centre

AN AGING population coupled with a low birth rate have combined to produce a policy shift in the management of Trinidad and Tobago’s health care sector.

Newly-appointed Health Minister John Rahael made this observation yesterday at the ceremonial opening of the Brothers’ Road Outreach Health Centre in Torrib-Tabaquite, which was refurbished at a cost of $2.574 million. Rahael, who later journeyed to the rural community of Rio Claro to formally open that district’s health centre yesterday, observed that while “significant progress” had been made on improving the nation’s health care facilities, “much more remains to be done. “The health needs of the population are changing in Trinidad and Tobago, and the population structure and projected lifestyle changes are approaching that of a developed country, with an aging population and a reduction in births,” Rahael said.

He added that, while TT’s average life expectancy had now reached 73 years, the “health care needs profile” indicated “a shift from infectious diseases to chronic diseases,” such as hypertension and diabetes. “We need to adjust our programmes to suit these changes,” he said. He said the newly-implemented Chronic Disease Assistance Programme (CDAP), together with the Private Pharmacy Programme, formed part of Government’s health sector reform initiatives. Rahael, who succeeded Colm Imbert as Health Minister in a Cabinet reshuffle almost two weeks ago, noted that the Brothers’ Road facility was the third health centre opened in less than one week.

He also revealed that the Matura, Manzanilla, Guayaguayare and San Souci Outreach Centres were presently under construction while the Sangre Grande and Mayaro District Health Facilities were being refurbished during the present fiscal year. “Health centres will provide the full range of basic services and limited specialty services,” he said, adding that minor surgery would also become available at the Mayaro facility, while specialised health services, such as ophthalmology and audiology, would be available at the enhanced health centres, including the Sangre Grande Health Centre. The Brothers’ Road Outreach Health facility was upgraded at a cost of some $2.574 million and includes a wellness centre complete with weight-training equipment.