NASSAU, The Bahamas - The Ministry of Health and Wellness is touting the newly reopened Anne's Town Community Clinic as one of its technically advanced healthcare facilities, aimed to upgrade the delivery of services to those who come through its doors.
On Wednesday, April 16, 2025 the ministry, through its Department of Public Health held a Reopening and Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony of the facility, originally built in 1979 through Williams Lane off Kemp Road.
Having worked at the clinic while employed with the Department of Public Health, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville, now the Minister of Health and Wellness, said it was a proud moment for him to witness the reopening with the modernized technical infrastructure.
Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Hon. Philip Davis, in attendance, said that his government is focusing on prevention, as it is no longer enough to treat sickness after a person becomes afflicted.
“We must prevent it before it takes hold. Our people are living with chronic conditions, [like] hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease,” he said. “That can be better managed, even avoided, with stronger community-based care. This is where the shift begins.”
The clinic was built 46 years ago to serve the historic community as a critical healthcare facility. While it began with providing essential maternal and child health services, over the years the scope of services expanded to include gerontology, mental health services and chronic disease management.
Dr. Darville said: “Over time as the population grew so did the demands on this clinic with difficulties such as space limitations and restrictive consultation rooms, outdated furniture, water supply issues and restrictive parking."
After a few years of work, the newly renovated clinic reopened – a 7,200-square-foot building with more examination rooms, a fully equipped pharmacy, laboratory and diagnostic services, a dedicated mechanical room, new water supply system and back-up generator to ensure that the clinic remains operational during emergencies.
“These improvements ensure quality care is close to home for antenatal and postnatal support, for school health services, and the management of chronic and non-acute conditions,” said Dr. Darville.
He added, “As we continue to strengthen our primary healthcare system, this upgraded facility ensures residents can access care for non life-threatening conditions in their community, relieving pressure from the Princess Margaret Hospital, and the polyclinics.”
Dr. Darville urged residents, especially parents, to ensure that their children have regular check-ups; and not only visit the clinic when they are sick.
“These check-ups help monitor their growth, keep them up-to-date with vaccinations, and discover any health concerns early,” he said. “The same applies to our elderly loved ones. Routine visits allow for the management of chronic conditions, screening for age-related illnesses, and support for healthy aging.”
These steps can help save lives through prevention, and encourage health and lifestyle management, he added.
The public is reminded that the Department of Public Health is implementing a digitization strategy in alignment with the ministry’s strengthening of information systems for health – or the IS4H initiative.
“At present we have implemented phase one of the introduction of an electronic medical record at the Adelaide and Gambier Clinic, a project that is now in its third month,” said Dr. Philip Swann, Acting Director, Department of Public Health.
He disclosed that over 100 healthcare providers in the Department of Public Health and in the Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Paediatrics Departments at the Princess Margaret Hospital have been trained. The intent is to formally transition to the digital SIP Plus in the clinics by the 1st May 2025.
Dr. Swann explained that the second linchpin in this digitization programme is the implementation of the digital antenatal record or SIP Plus, which would replace the cardboard document that tracks the experience of a woman during her pregnancy and first four weeks post-delivery.
“SIP Plus will allow the digital version of that record to be available to any health centre that requires it – once permission is granted by the pregnant woman,” he said.
The officials collectively thanked all involved in the reopening of the Anne's Town Community Clinic.
A week earlier, on April 9, the Ministry of Health and Wellness held a Ground-breaking Ceremony for the Coconut Grove Advanced Health Centre on Baillou Hill Road.
Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Philip Davis
National Security Minister and MP for Freetown Constituency, Wayne Munroe
Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers tour the clinic
Anne's Town Community Clinic
(BIS Photos/Mark Ford)
