Written by Josiah St luce
The government of Dominica has announced a National Advisory Board to take on matters concerning the elderly on the island.
Minister of state in the Ministry of Health with special responsibility for Seniors Security Cassandra Williams said this bored will provide improvements in the care of the elderly.
“I wish to announce today that to improve our system of care to our country seniors the government of Dominica will establish an Advisory Board to coordinate the health and social care support for the elderly in Dominica,” she stated during a press briefing held in at the financial center on Monday.
“This Advisory Board will provide leadership propose multi- disciplinary approach and makes strategic recommendations for improvements in systems and processes for the delivery of care services to seniors.”
She noted that some of the areas of focus will include reviews of processes of care, ethics and clinical and social care and the physical environment.
The minster also stated that in essence, the board will promote a structured approach to the development and provision of elderly services oversee the availability of and access to medical care, devise targeted interventions to address their specific health issues, ensure their proper nutrition and promote their overall well-being within our society .
The members of the board are as follows:
Chairman- Marie Therese Junkere the owner of PHARCS, Dr. Lenora Drigo – director of primary healthcare services, Delia Giddings Stedman – chief welfare officer, Cecilia Hamilton- director of yes we care program, Janice Jean-Jacques Thomas- director of Dominica Social Security, Cecil Clark – Member of PHARCS, Isline Titre- Retired district education officer, Varone Nicholas– President of the Dominica Dementia Foundation, Clannis Jno- Baptiste- Director of Dominica infirmary, Ariane Magloire, Physiotherapist, Dr. Curtis St. John- Medical Doctor, Noelize Knight Didier- Lawyer, Ashton Riviere – President of the northern home for the injured, Vinna Royer- advocate for cancer society president of council of ageing, Priscilla Prevost- nutritionist, representative of the grotto home and Dominica Council on ageing and Melissa Morgan director of gender affairs, among others.
The board’s first priorities will be to advise the government of Dominica on the creation of a national dementia plan and enacting legislation to make elder abuse a crime.
