Tynia Brown
Journal Staff Writer
During a presentation to the people of Cat Island on Monday September 2nd Minister of Health
and Wellness Dr. Michael Darville says that his ministry has plans for a new clinic there in the
settlement of Stevenson.
Darville also says that the ministry has plans to break ground with new clinics on various islands
such as Mangrove Cay, Andros, Palmetto Point, Eleuthera, Black Point, Exuma, Staniel Cay,
Exuma one in Moore’s Island, Abaco and one in Mayaguana.
“All of these clinics are now coming to fruition to the point where we are actually presenting
them to the various islands. We believe that the clinic meets the size and population growth of
Cat Island and other direct foreign investment projects that will come to the island, and it will be
a place of excellence where the residents of Cat Island can receive not just primary healthcare
but other essential services throughout the north to south of Cat Island.”
Acting director of public health Dr. Phillip Swann says the goal is to try to decrease the number
of times people will have to go to Nassau for routine diagnostic services, as well as persons who
come into the hospital for emergencies.
In terms of staff training for the new clinic, Dr. Swann says training will soon be underway with
the department of public health. Swann also says his team is assessing where else they would
need to put administrators.
Prime minister Philip Brave Davis also spoke at the presentation.
“When we were elected, we were elected on a platform. We told the people what we were going
to do and now we’re showing them what we’re going to do. It’s the difference between saying
what you’re going to do and then doing what you’re going to do and it comes about when you
show them what you’re doing.
Davis commended the health minister for taking the baton with tremendous strides and progress
in health infrastructure.
Davis also said the pandemic exposed a lot of things that needed to be changed in the healthcare
system.
Davis says he hopes the Bahamian people will keep holding him and his administration up and
keeping their feet to the fire to ensure they deliver.
