Charlestown, Nevis
June 29, 2010
Minister with Responsibility for Health and Social Development on Nevis Hon. Hensley Daniel registered profound gratitude to members of the Canada based St. Kitts – Nevis Circle of Care, for their contribution to the delivery of care to senior citizens on Nevis.
The latest donation in the form of equipment and supplies worth over Canadian $24,000 were handed over by the Group’s President Ms. Janette Maynard to Mr. Daniel in a brief but significant ceremony at the Flambouyant Home on Tuesday. The gift came on the heels of a two-day training workshop hosted by the Circle of Care for caregivers on Nevis.
Mr. Daniel said their gift, the second in two years, was a demonstration of the Group’s true dedication.
“I believe they have demonstrated on this trip their real commitment. First they had a training programme for the caregivers and now they have topped that up with some well needed supplies. For those of you who work in the services on a daily basis, you are acutely aware of the cost of these items and it is in that regard we wish to give to them a special commendation.
“Their Circle of care takes in the whole circle ““ the training and the contribution of the items so that oon both levels they have seen it fit to assist our seniors,” he said.
He urged the members of the group present at the handing over to take word to the wider membership on their return to Canada that the supplies and equipment would be put to optimum use.
“It is expected that we care for the seniors because we have been given a hand by you. Please convey to your members our most sincere gratitude for their contribution and tell them they can continue to organise the dinners and the silent auctions because these are the results,” he said.
Mr. Daniel said too, that the programme designed for the care of the seniors on Nevis enticed others to contribute. He described the programme of care and development through the Ministry of Social Services and also the Ministry of Health by way of the Flambouyant Home as comprehensive.
The Minister expressed the view that many of the seniors had received a new lease on life and as such their psychosocial functioning has improved because they were aware that there were people all over the world who are interested in their care.
“If they know that people in Canada are organising auctions for bringing contributions they stay alive and stay around until the auctions are finished in much the same way that they say to us that they want to stay around until we introduce the new kind of current which is geothermal.
“So I want again to say to all of you that in this work we are looking after people who have looked after us and we owe them a debt of gratitude and as such we want to continue to work with you and we look forward to a long and productive relationship with your organisation,” he said.
Meantime, Ms. Maynard in brief remarks gave an overview of her organisation and its fund raising efforts.
“The St. Kitts Nevis Circle of Care is a non profit, non sectarian, non political organisation and it was formed in April 2008 when a few dedicated nationals from St. Kitts and Nevis decided it was time for us to give back to the community so this is how it was formed.
“Our objective is really to enhance the quality of life for the seniors of St. Kitts and Nevis. We do our fund raising through dancing, dinners, silent auctions and we also go to the community and we ask for stuff from corporations and businesses and these are some of the stuff donated to us and some were purchased by money we got from the fund raisers that we did,” she said.
Among the items donated she said was a mechanical lift, incontinent products such as bed pads and briefs, blood pressure monitoring machines, disinfectant for cleaning wheelchairs, floor and other surfaces, feeding cups, reachers, shoes, clothing, wheel chairs and commode.
Also present at the handing over ceremony were Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health Mrs. Joslyn Liburd, members of the St. Kitts/Nevis Circle of Care: Director of St. Kitts and Nevis Affairs Mrs. Linette Liburd, Treasurer Mr. Kenneth Liburd and Vice President Mrs. Alison Prentice Jeffers.