Government of Saint Lucia

In today's headlines:

The Prime Minister of Saint Lucia has called on all Saint Lucians to recognize that working together as one nation is the only way for Saint Lucia to obtain meaningful, and sustainable development and; The deadline for applications to the Income Support Programme (ISP) via the Safety Nets for Vulnerable Populations Affected by the Coronavirus Project has been extended.

For details on these updates and more, visit www.govt.lc

In November, Health officials in St. Lucia participated in a health surveillance system rapid assessment exercise, through a one-day workshop.

The workshop is one of many put on within the region, as PAHO continues to monitor adverse events that may occur following immunization. The session will serve to enhance surveillance of the region’s vaccination systems.

In preparation for the new school term, January-March 2024, the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs takes this opportunity to remind parents to be vigilant and stay updated with the latest health information and guidelines provided by the Ministry of Health, educational institutions and other government authorities to help reduce the spread of infectious diseases. Presently, we have noted an increase in gastroenteritis and respiratory cases. It is critical that we take measures to prevent the spread of these infections. To do this, you must:

1.   Ensure that your child has hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes and a bottle of hand soap when attending school. Involve your child in the process to instill a sense of responsibility and ownership.

2.   Encourage your child to get sufficient sleep, eat nutritious meals, practice good oral hygiene, and get enough physical activity to keep their bodies healthy.

3.   Provide a daily supply of water so that your child remains hydrated. When preparing lunch bags, limit packaged snacks and sugar sweetened beverages. Make use of seasonal fruits and vegetables to encourage healthier eating habits.

4.   Utilize infection prevention and control methods such as:

·      Encouraging frequent hand washing before and after eating, using the washroom and playing outside, to help prevent the spread of germs and viruses.

·      Cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting surfaces, and limit the sharing of personal belongings.

·      Teaching your child to cough and sneeze in their elbows or into a tissue.

5.   If your child develops symptoms including coughing, runny nose, sore throat, fever, vomiting or diarrhea, seek medical care and do not send the child to school until the symptoms have resolved. Reinforce the idea that those measures are in place to protect their health and the well-being of others.

6. Ensure that all medication provided to your child is given as prescribed and follow the advice of your medical professional.

As the new school term commences, the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs would like to wish parents/guardians, principals, teachers, care givers, auxiliary staff and students a happy, prosperous and productive new year.

The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs, through its processes of disease surveillance, has noted an increase in the number of individuals presenting at health care facilities with symptoms of gastroenteritis.

In comparison to the previous week, a 14% increase in cases has been recorded. It has also been observed that children have been the most affected, as compared to adults in previous weeks. Most of the affected individuals experience sudden onset vomiting and diarrhea, which usually resolve with treatment of the symptoms.

Acute gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the stomach and the intestines and can be caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, chemicals or medications. Symptoms of gastroenteritis include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, fever, headache or muscle aches.

The very contagious Norovirus also referred to as the “stomach flu” most prevalent during the winter season has been circulating and has been the cause of many cases of gastroenteritis globally.

The public is reminded to remain mindful of the following measures to avoid contracting and spreading gastroenteritis:

• Practice good hand hygiene by washing hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water, especially after vomiting, after a bowel movement and before handling food;

• Do not prepare meals for others if you are vomiting or have diarrhea;

• Do not eat undercooked foods;

• Disinfect contaminated surfaces and objects frequently to eliminate the virus/bacteria;

• If you are sick, avoid going to work/school until 24 hours after your symptoms have passed.

If you have symptoms of gastroenteritis, please seek medical care at your nearest Wellness Centre. You may be asked to produce a stool sample.

The Ministry also wishes to remind the public that we are currently in the flu season, and persons may experience respiratory symptoms. To date, both respiratory syncytial virus and influenza type A have been isolated.

The public is encouraged to help stop the spread of respiratory illnesses by:

• Maintaining proper hand hygiene;

• Washing hands thoroughly after coughing or sneezing;

• Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing;

• Wearing a mask where possible in crowded places;

• Disinfecting contaminated surfaces and objects frequently to eliminate the virus/bacteria;

• Not attending work or sending sick children to school or day care centres until symptoms have passed;

• Avoiding contact with people at higher risk of contracting severe illness such as infants, older people and those who are immunocompromised until your symptoms have passed;

• Consulting a healthcare professional if your flu like symptoms linger or worsens.

Let us work collectively during this festive season to prevent further increases in cases. Let us work to safeguard our health.

The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Elderly affairs wishes all citizens a safe and enjoyable season and a productive 2024.

Relocation of Services from the Castries Wellness Centre

The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs informs the public of the continued closure of Castries Wellness Centre from Tuesday 19 December, 2023. This closure is necessary as the Ministry seeks to ensure a healthy environment for clients and staff.

In an effort to ensure that quality healthcare services remain available to the public, services which were offered at the Castries Wellness Centre have been redirected as follows:

Medical Clinics and all Primary Health Care Clinics including Antenatal and Child Health clinics, dressings and pap smears, among others, have been redirected to the La Clery Wellness Centre. Clinic days remain the same as were previously conducted at the Castries Wellness Centre, that is from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. In addition, the Medical Clinic is available on Saturday from 8:00 am – 12:00 p.m.

The Dermatology Clinic has been redirected to the Gros Islet Polyclinic. The Podiatry Clinic, Obstetrics/Gynecology Clinic and Phlebotomy Service can be accessed at the Entrepot Wellness Centre. The Medical Internist Clinic will be available at the Grande Riviere Wellness Centre, Monchy Wellness Centre and the Gros Islet Polyclinic.

The Diabetic Retinopathy Clinic and Colposcopy services will remain unavailable at this time, and the Ministry will inform the public of the resumption of these services in a subsequent communication.

Clients are urged to visit the appropriate Wellness Centre for healthcare services, and to utilize their nearest community Wellness Centre for care in order to preserve or improve their health.

The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs apologizes for any inconvenience that these changes may cause, and thanks the public for its cooperation as we strive to resolve the situation.

For further information, please contact the Community Health Services Unit at telephone number 468-5321, 468-5381 or 4685383.

SERVICE

NEW LOCATION

SCHEDULED DAYS

Medical Clinic

La Clery Wellness Centre

Monday to Friday, from 8:00

a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon.

Primary Health services including:

·       Antenatal clinic

·       Child Health clinic

·       Family Planning

·       Dressings

·       Pap Smear

La Clery Wellness Centre

Monday to Friday, from 8:00

a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon.

Sexual and Reproductive Health Services

Ciceron Wellness Centre

Monday to Friday, from 8:00

a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Dermatology Clinic

Gros Islet Polyclinic

Wednesdays, except the 3rd

Wednesday each month.

Podiatry Clinic

Entrepot Wellness Centre

3rd Wednesday and 4th

Friday each month

Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic

Entrepot Wellness Centre

4th Monday and 3rd Friday

each month

Phlebotomy Services

Entrepot Wellness Centre

Wednesday and Thursday, except the 3rd Wednesday

each month

Medical Internist Clinic

Gros Islet Polyclinic

2nd and 4th Monday each

month

Medical Internist Clinic

Grand Riviere Wellness Centre

1st Friday each month

Medical Internist Clinic

Monchy Wellness Centre

1st Tuesday each month

Pharmacy Services

La Clery Wellness Centre

Monday to Friday, from 8:00

a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and

Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

In today’s headlines: Leaders from Community Based Organizations in Babonneau and Gros-Islet benefit from a comprehensive capacity-building training exercise, and the OECS launches a project aimed at deepening regional integration.

For details on these updates and more, visit www.govt.lc

In the headlines: The Ministry of Health is providing food safety tips for a healthy festive season and; The National Youth Awards recognize a multitude of young go-getters.

For details on these updates and more, visit www.govt.lc

In the headlines: The Ministry of Equity strengthens Social Protection Systems and; ECTEL Welcomes a New Chairperson.

For details on these updates and more, visit www.govt.lc

The Central Statistics Office has organized a two-week regional training workshop. The overall objective of this workshop is to train statisticians and experts in statistical computing from the Bahamas and Saint Lucia in the use of the REDATAM software for online dissemination of census and survey microdata.

In the headlines: The Constituency of Gros Islet hosts a Groundbreaking for the Development of the Gros Islet Waterfront and; Earlier this week, the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers saw the first participating boat reaching Saint Lucian shores.

For details on these updates and more, visit www.govt.lc