Members of the Community Partners Focus Group have been told about the work of the Health Authority of Anguilla and have had an opportunity to ask questions about the continuing development of the island’s health services.

The meeting, held at the Authority’s Corporate Office on Friday, April 28, was presided over by Chief Executive Officer, Dexter James.

Community Partners Meeting

Among the matters looked at were the significant achievements of the Health Authority during 2005. These included the restructuring of primary health care services to three health districts; an increase rating of the professional and caring services of doctors by patients, put at 70%, compared with 47 percent in 2004; improvement of dental services rated by patients at 80%; installation of new x-ray equipment and of a patient-nurse call system; overseas referrals of patients to HIMA San Pablo, a tertiary care centre in Puerto Rico; five doctors trained and certified in advanced cardiac life support; a 24-hour coverage service in the accident and emergency department; purchase of a special chemistry analyzer for testing PSAs HTLV and harmonal studies; the marketing of standardized diabetic testing machines; HIV/AIDS counselling and testing and radio communications fitted on ambulances and linked to the accident and emergency department and the patients’ wards.

The meeting also heard about a number of corporate objectives, for this year, relating to such priority areas as health systems development; human resources development and management; family health; food and nutrition and physical activity; chronic non-communicable diseases; mental health and substance abuse, communicable diseases and HIV/AIDS.

Community Partners Meeting with Dexter James HAA’s CEO (second from right)

The 2006 capital programme involves an expenditure of $800,000. The money is to be used for various things including the purchase of a chemistry analyzer, repairs to health centres, ultrasound equipment; a generator house for the Welches Polyclinic, computer equipment, a sterilizer; and a vehicle.

The 2006 budget of the Health Authority comprises $15,624,649 provided by the Anguilla Government through the Ministry of Social Development and $3,686,000 to be raised in health services fees.

Another matter discussed at the meeting was the ongoing accreditation process which has so far achieved much success in terms of planning and organisation. Accreditation should be accomplished by December this year.

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