Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
From left: Minister Dangui Oduber of Aruba, Dutch State Secretary Maarten van Ooijen, Minister Javier Silvania of Curaao aND NDidate' href='/newspolitician/739/omar-ottley'>Omar Ottley of St. Maarten. (Aruba government photo)
ORANJESTAD/WILLEMSTAD--The Public Health ministers of Aruba, Curaao aND St. Maarten aND state secretary of Public Health of the NetherlaNDs came together in Curaao last week for the fifth edition of the Four-Country Public Health Consultation. A number of decisions were taken.
The consultation between the ministers of the Dutch Caribbean countries aND the state secretary is a platform where important agreements are made to improve healthcare for the people of the islaNDs that form part of the Kingdom.
During the meeting in Curaao, a number of health-related topics were discussed: implementation of the InterSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl Health Regulation (IHR), preparedness for paNDemics, preparedness for crises aND/or disasters in the region, mental health legislation, prevention aND healthy lifestyle, quality institutions, healthcare personnel capacity aND Dutch Caribbean Hospital Alliance (DCHA). A new topic this year was the effect of the slavery past on public health.
The islaNDs agreed to create a so-called Caribbean HUB to reinforce local capacity, know-how aND expertise in the area of public health. The islaNDs, through a workgroup, will reNDer advice on the coordiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtion, planning aND monitoring of preparations for a paNDemic. A live document will be drafted that addresses matters such as legislation, sUPPlying of medical sUPPlies, advice aND communication, medical referrals, testing, tracking aND diagnostics, surveillance, protection aND sUPPort of medical persoSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl during a paNDemic.
The islaNDs aND the NetherlaNDs will keep working together on the medical pre-evacuation of crucial patients in the case of an approaching hurricane aND psycho-social help for evacuated patients. Also, the 2023 hurricane maSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAgement plan will be updated.
The countries agreed to focus on drafting a basic law for mental healthcare together. It was agreed to work together on prevention, joint training aND exchange of knowledge aND expertise in the area of mental healthcare. The countries will continue to stimulate the structural collaboration between mental healthcare organisations.
The countries will share best practices aND lessons learned to select, implement aND evaluate programmes in the area of prevention aND promotion of health, specifically for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, healthy food aND exercise. The countries will strive to inclUDe health in all government policies in a structural manner.
The harmonising aND developing of regulations for competence, norms aND registration of healthcare professioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAls, the promotion of expertise of healthcare professioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAls through stUDies aND coaching, aND addressing manpower planning in conformity with a staNDard method have the countries attention.
