Free health services

On Wednesday, an official from the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) told Newsday the ministry expected people to take the initiative to take charge of their health.

The official said the initiative was in keeping with the ministry’s strategic plan to reduce CNCDs, and was also part of the Healthy Me...Healthy You...Healthy TnT campaign.

“We are offering these free services to make it more accessible to them so they will have an idea of their blood pressure, sugar cholesterol, and all other basic testing, and also we want to encourage a healthy lifestyle.” The official added, “Knowing your figures, you would know what is going on with your health. Apart from the testing we are offering the educational aspect as well. People will be educated on how to improve their lifestyle by having a proper diet, and doing exercises.” In a press release, the ministry on Wednesday said with the commitment to improve the health status of individuals and communities, the ministry’s policy agenda of reducing CNCDs and chronic communicable diseases (CCDs), the NWRHA continued to make strides in its health outreach activities.

The ministry said free services offered to the public include basic screening for blood pressure/blood glucose/blood cholesterol, HIV testing and counselling, prostate specific antigen (PSA) tests, body mass index (BMI) and nutrition counselling, children’s assessments, lactation management, mental health education, and other allied health services.

The ministry said it had also partnered with external agencies to provide vision screening, Pap smears, disaster-preparedness tips, alcohol- and substance-abuse education, food demonstrations, family planning and many other health related activities.

Members of the public can make use of the free health services at the following times and places: June 25, July 23, and August 27: the San Juan Promenade from 6.30 am to 11 am; July 1: the Carenage Community Centre, Haig Street, Carenage, from 9 am to 2 pm; July 8, August 12 and September 9: WASA’s compound in Diego Martin from 6.30 am to11 am and; July 16, August 20 and September 17: the Central Market in Port of Spain from 6.30 am to 11 am