分类： Health

In a move aimed at strengthening Public Health infrastructure, and improving surveillance, the American University of Antigua (AUA) has generously donated 5 Lenovo desktop computers to the Central Board of Health (CBH) on July 14, 2025.

The handover was made by AUA’s Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Director of Emergency Medicine Training Centre & Chemical Simulation – Mr. Vernon Solomon, and Director of Facilities – Mr. Lennie B. Quashie to Chief Health Inspector – Ms. Sharon Martin.

Ms. Martin welcomed the very timely donation, and extended sincere thanks to the management of AUA. She added that the computers will be put to good use immediately to store and analyze data, so that Public Health interventions can be implemented in a more timely manner. AUA’s kindness and contribution to supporting the department is truly appreciated.

Once again CBH thanks AUA for its generosity, and for believing in their work.

A high-level meeting was recently convened to discuss the strategic direction of National Health Insurance (NHI) in Antigua and Barbuda. The discussion brought together a diverse group of experts and public officials, including Professor Karl Theodore, Dr. Stanley Lalta, Ms. Charmaine Meteivier, Permanent Secretary Colin Okeiffe, Principal Assistant Secretary Gwendolyn Cafter Joseph, and CEO of the Medical Benefits Scheme Kevin Silston.

The meeting focused on shaping a sustainable and inclusive health financing model that will enhance access to quality healthcare for all citizens. Participants shared insights, technical perspectives, and a shared commitment to moving the NHI agenda forward in the national interest.

The Ministry thanks all attendees for their valuable contributions and looks forward to continued collaboration as Antigua and Barbuda advances toward universal health coverage.

CABINET NOTES: The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda welcomed a delegation comprising Professors and Researchers from the University of the West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine Campus in Trinidad and Tobago, along with senior government officials including the Chairman and CEO of the Medical Benefits Scheme (MBS), the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, the Chairman and Medical Director of the Mount St. John Medical Centre Board, and two representatives from the Legal Department.

The purpose of the engagement was to provide an update on the national strategy to establish a National Health Insurance (NHI) system by transitioning the current MBS into a universal, legislated health financing model that ensures lifetime healthcare coverage for all residents.

The Cabinet was reminded that the NHI will be a mandatory, pooled health financing system, offering a defined package of health services to all individuals—regardless of age, income, or pre-existing medical conditions. The system is intended to enhance efficiency, equity, and responsiveness while promoting sustainable and high-quality care.

One of the critical findings presented was that Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Antigua and Barbuda currently stands between 69% and 76%, indicating a coverage gap of approximately 24% to 31%.

Among the anticipated benefits of implementing the NHI are:

• Broader access to healthcare across both public and private sectors
• Enhanced financial protection for families
• Improved coordination and efficiency within the healthcare system
• A strengthened national framework aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.8, which aims to achieve Universal Health Coverage

The Cabinet was informed that significant progress has been made toward implementation. A National Health Insurance Policy Framework and a Responsibility Matrix have been developed. A completion schedule has also been outlined, detailing steps for institutional reforms, stakeholder engagement—including the Ministry of Finance, MBS, and MSJMC—and a phased implementation approach. Additionally, comparative benchmarks with other OECS countries have been analyzed to gauge national readiness.

The following actions were presented as priorities for the next phase:

• Enactment of supporting legislation and continued stakeholder consultations
• A national public education campaign and resident registration process
• A pilot phase, to be followed by full-scale implementation

The team was directed to continue its work and to provide regular progress updates to Cabinet. The Government reaffirmed its strong commitment to achieving universal, high-quality healthcare through the successful implementation of the National Health Insurance—ensuring no resident is left behind.

The American University of Antigua (AUA) has donated five Lenovo desktop computers to the Central Board of Health (CBH) in a move to strengthen public health infrastructure and improve data-driven surveillance.

The donation was officially handed over on July 14, 2025, by AUA’s Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Vernon Solomon—who also serves as Director of the Emergency Medicine Training Centre & Chemical Simulation—and Director of Facilities, Mr. Lennie B. Quashie. Chief Health Inspector Ms. Sharon Martin accepted the equipment on behalf of CBH.

Ms. Martin expressed gratitude for the donation, describing it as “very timely” and noting that the computers will immediately be used for data storage and analysis. “This will allow us to implement public health interventions more efficiently,” she said, thanking AUA for its continued support.

The CBH extended appreciation to AUA for its generosity and commitment to enhancing public health services in Antigua and Barbuda.

Data from the latest Global AIDS Update Report, released by UNAIDS, shows the Caribbean recorded a 62% reduction in AIDS-related deaths, between 2010 and 2024, the steepest decline among eight regions globally.

According to the report—AIDS, Crisis and the Power to Transform, over the last fifteen years, there has been a 54% decline in AIDS-related deaths globally. The Caribbean is well above the global average at 62%.

The report credits the widespread availability of anti-retroviral treatment (ART) for the progress made since 2010.

Reductions have also been recorded in West & Central Africa (60%), Eastern & Southern Africa (59%), Asia & the Pacific (53%), Western & Central Europe and North America (48%), Latin America (31%) and the Middle East & North Africa (6%) while Eastern Europe & Central Asia reported a 48% increase over the same period.

UNAIDS commended governments, communities of people living with and most affected by HIV, and key partners, including PEPFAR and The Global Fund, among others for the progress made across the region.

“The Caribbean’s stellar performance and achievements are commendable. It shows the resilience of a region constrained by a myriad of social, economic and other challenges such as high debt, declining external funding, and natural disasters and how critical political leadership is to safeguard people’s health without distinction,” Dr Richard Amenyah, the Director of UNAIDS Multi-Country Office in the Caribbean said.

“Despite the ongoing challenges, the Caribbean continues to show that great things can be achieved when governments and all stakeholders, including people living with HIV and key populations, work together to protect and promote good health and well-being,” Amenyah said.

In 2010, only 53,000 people living with HIV were on treatment in the Caribbean. 13,000 adults and children lost their lives due to AIDS-related conditions that year.

However, by 2024, this number climbed to 250,000 people on treatment—with 50,000 of them added between 2020 and 2024.

Today, 85% of people living with HIV in the Caribbean know their status, 74% are on treatment, and 66% are virally suppressed (up from 33% in 2017). Last year, deaths declined to 4,800 deaths (down from 6,100 people in 2020).

While the organisation applauds stakeholders for the progress in reducing AIDS-related deaths, UNAIDS said it is concerned about the rate of decline in new infections across the region.

Noting that the progress is insufficient to reach the targets to end AIDS, UNAIDS urged political leaders, healthcare workers and other stakeholders to do more to prevent new HIV infections.

Globally, new HIV infections have been reduced by 40% since 2010 but only 21% of new infections have been reduced in the Caribbean. In 2024, there were 15,000 new infections with Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Jamaica accounting for 90% (Haiti contributed 38%) and young people (15–24 years) account for 25% of new infections overall.

UNAIDS’ new report emphasizes integrating HIV into broader health systems, strengthening partnerships with CSOs and communities, and addressing social determinants like stigma and discrimination to prevent new HIV infections, especially among young people and key populations and prevent treatment interruptions.

Caribbean governments are also being encouraged to take greater ownership to navigate geopolitical funding shifts, ensuring financial and programmatic sustainability to achieve the 2030 goal of ending AIDS.

Noting that domestic funding for the HIV response moved from 30% in 2023 to 38% in 2024, UNAIDS said more needs to be done to achieve the internationally agreed targets to end AIDS as a public health threat.

“Governments must continue to prioritize increasing domestic resources, integrate HIV into broader health systems, innovate to keep people living with HIV on treatment toward achieving viral suppression and ensure equitable access for young people and key populations to prevent new infections. Only through sustained partnership and greater country ownership can we end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 in the region,” Amenyah said.

A total of 7,132 confirmed cases of measles and 13 deaths have been reported in the Region of the Americas as of mid-June 2025, according to the latest epidemiological update from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). This represents a 29-fold increase compared to the 244 cases reported during the same period in 2024.

Nine countries have reported cases in 2025, with Canada (3,170 cases, 1 death), Mexico (2,597 cases, 9 deaths) and the United States (1,227 cases, 3 deaths), accounting for the majority. Other countries reporting cases include Bolivia (60), Argentina (34), Belize (34), Brazil (5), Peru (4) and Costa Rica (1). The outbreaks originated from importations from countries both within and outside the Region. The most affected age groups are children under 5 and adolescents aged 10 to 19 years.

The rise in cases underscores the urgent need to address gaps in routine immunization. PAHO is calling on countries to reach and sustain 95% coverage with two doses of measles-containing vaccine, especially in communities with low coverage or active outbreaks.

PAHO is providing technical cooperation to most countries to strengthen epidemiological surveillance, train healthcare workers, and engage with communities to ensure timely detection and an effective response. To contain the outbreaks and prevent the spread of this vaccine-preventable disease, the Organization recommends the urgent implementation of intensified vaccination campaigns in affected areas and in those areas at risk of spread. PAHO does not recommend implementing restrictions on international travel.

The upward trend mirrors the global situation, where surveillance data from the World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded 188,355 suspected cases and 88,853 confirmed in 168 countries as of 6 June 2025. The Eastern Mediterranean Region accounts for the highest share (35%), followed by the African Region (21%) and the European Region (16%).

CABINET NOTES: The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has extended high commendations to the United Hands Inc. and the Seventh-day Adventist Church for their outstanding partnership with the Ministry of Health in hosting a successful four-day Health Fair at the Multi-Purpose Cultural and Exhibition Centre.

The Minister for Health, the Honourable Sir Molwyn Joseph, reported that over the course of just three days, the Fair delivered critical healthcare services to 1,110 individuals, including comprehensive medical assessments for more than 400 children.

Preliminary findings from the event have highlighted the need to re-evaluate healthcare delivery for the elderly, and revealed a growing demand for expanded dental services across the nation.

In response, Cabinet has approved several key health initiatives based on the Minister’s recommendations:

• Extended Clinic Hours: Community clinic operational schedules will be reviewed and adjusted to better accommodate elderly patients and others who rely on caregivers or public transport for medical access.
• National Dental Expansion: Beginning in September, the Ministry of Health will roll out a Fluoride and Sealant Programme targeting school-aged children. This initiative will be implemented in all schools nationwide, with technical guidance and support from the United Hands Inc. and the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
• Legislative Action: The Cabinet also announced that the Second Reading of the Sugary Beverages Act will proceed during the next sitting of Parliament, reflecting the Government’s commitment to improving public health outcomes and tackling non-communicable diseases.

Importantly, the Cabinet recognized the remarkable cost savings achieved through the Fair. It is estimated that the collaboration resulted in savings over $2.5 million in dental services and $1.5 million in eye examinations and prescription eyewear—a major benefit to both government resources and the individuals who received care.

The Government applauds the ongoing efforts of United Hands Inc. and the Seventh-day Adventist Church and its other civil society partners and remains committed to expanding accessible, affordable, and preventative healthcare across all communities.

The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has approved a proposal to extend public clinic opening hours into evenings and weekends, responding to widespread calls for more accessible healthcare services.

During Wednesday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, Director General Maurice Merchant highlighted the issue following a recent health fair hosted by United Hands Inc. and the Seventh‑day Adventist Church.

The event drew over 1,110 attendees in just three days — including more than 400 children — revealing significant unmet demand for dental, vision, and elderly care.

Merchant emphasised that many elderly citizens depend on family members who work conventional hours, making weekday morning clinic visits difficult.

The government believes that by extending hours into the late afternoon, evenings and potentially weekends, elderly and working families will find it easier to access necessary care — including dental, optometry, and general health services.

Tests conducted at the health fair — such as root canals, fluoride and sealant treatments for children, and vision screenings — revealed that families face both high costs and restrictive schedules when accessing services.

This has prompted the Cabinet to prioritise reforms aimed at improving service delivery.

Possible changes include:

• Extended weekday hours, into the 5 pm–8 pm range, allowing working individuals to visit clinics after office hours.
• Weekend clinic openings to ease congestion during busy weekdays and accommodate families.
• Enhanced access for elders, ensuring appointments can be scheduled at times that suit caregivers and patients alike.

These adjustments are part of a broader strategy to transition from one-off events like health fairs to consistent, accessible care standards.

The Ministry of Health will lead an operational review and present recommendations for implementing extended hours at public clinics nationwide.