GRAND BAHAMA, The Bahamas — Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey thanked healthcare professionals for their invaluable service, passion, and commitment to improving healthcare in The Bahamas.
Her remarks came during the opening ceremony of the Grand Bahama Medical and Dental Association Conference on Thursday, November 7, 2024 at Pelican Bay Hotel.
The two-day annual scientific educational conference was held under the theme: Empowering Communities: Pathways to Health and Recovery.
Minister Moxey underscored that an investment in healthcare is an investment in the country’s future and noted that the association, in collaboration with the government, plays a pivotal role in improving Grand Bahama’s healthcare.
“This annual conference provides a forum for education, constructive dialog, collaborative solutions, and ingenious pathways to health and recovery that will lead to better outcomes for our people,” she said.
Minister Moxey said that the health and wellness of the Bahamian people is of paramount importance to the government and applauded the healthcare professionals for hosting such a platform each year.
She further pointed out that while the action-oriented Davis Administration is focused on meeting the needs of residents by taking a more holistic approach to upgrading health care facilities throughout The Bahamas and improving the status of health care on Grand Bahama and islands in the Northern Bahamas, it cannot do it alone.
“Improving healthcare in The Bahamas to ensure that patients and residents have access to the best care available is a collaborative effort between the government and stakeholders,” Minister Moxey said.
“In ‘Our Blueprint for Change,’ we promised to aggressively focus on public health and wellness and shore up the capacity of our healthcare system. The government is committed to supporting your work by strengthening healthcare facilities and enhancing training opportunities for our healthcare professionals.”
The minister also congratulated new investments in healthcare in Grand Bahama and those who have reinvested and encouraged everyone to continue to work together to build a healthier, more resilient island and nation, inspiring future generations to contribute to the medical field.
Senator James Turner, who brought remarks on behalf of the Minister of Health and Wellness, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville, revealed that Phase I of the $210 million, 60,000-square-foot Freeport Health Campus presently under construction is on schedule to open in late 2025.
Keynote speaker Dr. Charles Diggiss, President and Chief Executive Officer of Doctors Hospital Health System, revealed the journey of pivoting, becoming successful and having a presence in Grand Bahama with the construction of the Rockwell Hospital near completion.
The healthcare professionals also discussed the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences in urban communities in The Bahamas; how natural disasters related to climate change impact patients with diabetes in small island developing states in the West Indies; urgent care experiences in Grand Bahama; and breastfeeding as a pathway to health.
Day two would tackle a myriad of issues from menopause, oral care, nutrition, bariatric surgery -- to obstructive sleep apnea.
