By Ministry of Health
CASTRIES, St Lucia – A seven-member delegation from the Cathay General Hospital in Taiwan is currently in Saint Lucia to gain a better understanding of the health sector. Last year, a Saint Lucian delegation visited Taiwan, hosted by the Taiwanese Medical Institution, for a three-month hands-on observer-ship training.
Dr Gennie Isaac-Louisy, project coordinator for the Capacity Building Project for the Prevention and Control of Chronic Diseases in Saint Lucia, said the delegation is looking forward to using the information gathered to strengthen the curriculum as it readies to receive the 2023 batch of trainees.
“In October we have five trainers, three nurses, one physician, and one nutritionist who will be undertaking training in Taiwan to help with the capacity-building project and undertake workshops in Saint Lucia over the next four years. And so the delegation came for a twofold purpose: to meet with those trainers and interview them on a personal level so they can understand what the trainers need; but also on a clinical and on a community level to assess those needs.”
A week of informational sessions have been planned for the Taiwanese delegation. Among the activities planned was a courtesy call with the permanent and deputy permanent secretaries of health. Permanent secretary, Jenny Daniel commended the team on the initiative.
“The team’s visit to ensure that the curriculum is in sync with the practices that we have here is a solid approach. It will auger well for the development of our health sector and the treatment, management and prevention of non-communicable diseases.”
Dr Lin Ching-Ling, Cathay Hospital representative, said the group is as anxious to learn as it is to teach.
In March 2023, Saint Lucia signed an MOU with the Republic of China (Taiwan), for the commencement of the Capacity Building Project for the Prevention and Control of Chronic Diseases. The project is part of a holistic plan by the ministry of health to fight the scourge of non-communicable diseases on the island. The delegation will visit various sites on the island during the seven-day stay.
