Government of Saint Lucia

In today's headlines: The Ministrty of Health Wellness and Elderly Affairs holds the first ever Transport sub-unit capacity building workshop and; The Rotary Club of Gros-islet and Diamonds International donate backpacks for needy students for the 2023/2024 Academic year.

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

In today's headlines: Forty students from the Republic of China-Taiwan, are in Saint Lucia as part of the Youth Ambassadors Exchange Programme and; The Ministry of Agriculture, recently hosted the first-ever Coconut and Cassava Festival.

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

In its commitment to mitigate the effects of climate change and address rising costs within the fishing industry, the Department of Fisheries has initiated the deployment of a new Floating Aggregating Device (FAD) in collaboration with the Soufriere Fishermen's Cooperative. This contributes to the ongoing FAD development program, which aims to maintain ten strategically positioned FADs around the island, offering essential support to the local fisherfolk.

The Department of Environmental Health as part of proactive measures to keep dengue fever at bay, has embarked on an adulticiding exercise, commonly referred to as fogging of school compounds around the island, ahead of the reopening of school on Monday, September 04,2023.

Shedding light on the exceptional importance and versatility of local agricultural produce, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Rural Development recently hosted the first-ever Coconut and Cassava Festival.

In today's headlines: The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs offer guidelines to parents and guardians as the academic year begins and; Form One and Form Two students of the Saint Mary’s College are soon to engage in a new robotics programme.

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

Drivers of the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs, numbering in excess of 40, gathered at Stony Hill for a capacity building workshop that was organized to enhance their skills sets and improve service delivery.

The workshop focused on key areas such as specimen sample handling, vehicle management policy, and maintenance.

https://www.govt.lc/news/ministry-of-health-hosts-capacity-building-workshop-for-drivers

The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs encourages parents/guardians to consider the following suggestions:

• Ensure that you inquire about the school’s reopening plans, safety measures and anY other specific guidelines you may need to follow.
• Ensure you have the necessary contact information such as the school’s administrativE office and your child’s teacher.
• Ensure that your child has hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes and a bottle of hand soap. Involve your child in the process to instill a sense of responsibility and ownership.
• Ensure to provide a daily supply of water to remain hydrated. When preparing lunch bags, avoid excessive packaged snacks and sugar sweetened beverages. Make use of seasonal fruits and vegetables to encourage healthier eating habits. Cut down on screen time an encourage your child to participate in extracurricular activities such as football, netball, volleyball, cricket, steel pan etc.; activities that will encourage movement.
• Discuss health and safety measures with your child.
• Explain the importance of good hand hygiene, and avoid sharing personal belongings.
• To reduce the spread of infections if your child develops symptoms including coughing, runny nose, sore throat, fever, vomiting and diarrhea seek medical care and do not send the child to school until they have recovered. Reinforce the idea that those measures are in place to protect their health and the well-being of others.
• The return to school can cause anxiety for some. Be mindful of your child’s emotions and provide a supportive environment where they feel comfortable expressing their emotions.
• Gradually re-introduce regular routines, such as consistent bedtimes, meal schedules and study habits. This will help your child re-adjust and ease into the school routine more smoothly.
• Practice waking up and getting ready for school at the appropriate times to ensure a seamless transition.
• Talk to your child about bullying. Let them know it is unacceptable. Make sure the know how to get help if they are being bullied.

https://www.govt.lc/news/ministry-of-health-issues-guidelines-for-new-academic-year

The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs would like to again implore the Saint Lucian public to join us in the fight against the Aedes Aegypti mosquito. This request comes in light of the recent reports coming out of our next door neighbor Martinique, where a total of 690 cases of Dengue Fever have been confirmed and 3,000 cases have been suspected.

Like Martinique and the rest of the Caribbean, Dengue Fever is also endemic to Saint Lucia. Thus it is imperative that we utilize all possible measures to significantly reduce the mosquito population and prevent an outbreak of Dengue Fever in country. 

https://www.govt.lc/news/environmental-health-department-intensifies-mosquito-control-strategies

GOVERNMENT NOTEBOOK (SEP. 1, 2023)

In the headlines: More than fifty young entrepreneurs have received a financial grant from the Youth Economy Agency, and the Ministry of Health undertakes a review of its health emergency and disaster risk management resources.

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