St Kitts: The Deputy Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr Geoffrey Hanley, delivered the New Year’s address in PM Terrance Drew’s absence. The Prime Minister had the flu virus, which is why he was not able to deliver the address.
In the national address which Dr Hanley delivered on behalf of Prime Minister Drew, he touched on the government’s achievements in the healthcare sector. Starting his address, Deputy PM Hanley extended his best wishes for the new year, hoping for it to be a fresh start and bring new hope for the people.
He thanked the people for supporting the government as they worked towards making the goal of a sustainable island state a reality.
Talking about healthcare, Dr Geoffrey Hanley said. “the government initiated a comprehensive overhaul of our healthcare system.”
In 2023, the Drew-led administration installed 15 new dialysis machines and started the renal transplant program. Through this step, they want to ensure a better quality of life for the people of St Kitts and Nevis.
Further, the government also bought state-of-the-art equipment for the eye clinic in JNF General Hospital. Afterwards, many people who needed eye surgeries received the help they needed.
The government understands the role that the nursing fraternity plays in the smooth running of the healthcare sector. They granted qualified nurses their rightful positions and well-deserved promotions within the country’s healthcare workforce.
Further, the administration provided training opportunities for the medical staff of the country. This step was taken to make sure that they had the knowledge and training for the latest advancements and techniques in the field.
The government also took up essential renovations at the JNF General Hospital. The aim of this initiative was to create a more comforting and healing environment.
The renovations include enriching the lobby, installing air conditioning units in the medical and surgical wards, and enhancing the overall landscaping to uplift the facility.
The Deputy Prime Minister shared that the labour led government believes that statistics are not the only measure of economic growth. The administration believes that growth can also be seen in security and peace in people’s lives.
Thus, the administration is working hard to construct houses for the people, attract more tourist footfalls and infrastructural and healthcare development among other things.