In order to implement the “Capacity Building Project for the Prevention and Control of Diabetes in St. Vincent and the Grenadines”, three officials of the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, visited Taiwan from August 13 to August 23, 2018,
The officials are Dr. Del Hamilton (Consultant, Preventive Medicine and Public Health/NCD Focal Point), Ms. Patsy Wyllie (Chief Health Promotion Officer) and Mrs. Andrea Robin (Chief Nutritionist) of the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment.
Mr. Chen-hua Fan, the project manager dispatched by TaiwanICDF, stated that the governments of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and St. Vincent and the Grenadines signed an agreement to launch the 3-year project last February.
‘Recognizing that diabetes has been a major public health issue reaching epidemic proportion in SVG, our two governments decided to launch the project to address the issue.’ Fan said.
SVG officials’ visit to Taiwan is part of the diabetes project. “By equipping them with an overall understanding of the measures on prevention and control of diabetes in Taiwan, the officials of SVG and Taiwan both will be in a better position to cooperate.” Fan stressed.
The SVG officials called on the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF), the Mackay Memorial Hospital, Community Health Centers and other related agencies. They had positive exchanges of views on diabetes prevention and control. Among these agencies, TaiwanICDF is the one that funded the project and the Mackay Memorial Hospital is the hospital responsible for the project.
The project aims to develop not only integrated care strategies of prevention and control of diabetes in SVG, but also to establish health self-management system in communities across the country.
Fan especially expressed his appreciations for the support and assistance lent by the Ministry of Health and its excellent staff.
Fan is convinced that, with Dr. Hamilton, Ms. Wyllie and Mrs. Robin’s visit to Taiwan, the project has a good start and prospects. Later this year, another eight SVG officials will visit Taiwan and some medical items will be provided by the project as well.
Dr. Del Hamilton (2nd from right), Ms. Patsy Wyllie (center) and Mrs. Andrea Robin (3rd from left) called on TaiwanICDF.