Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis: Dr. Terrance Drew, Prime Minister and Minister of Health of St. Kitts and Nevis, signed an agreement with the Republic of China (Taiwan) to launch the Mental Health Service System Enhancement Project on July 30, 2024.
The agreement was signed in Basseterre on Tuesday by PM Drew and Michael Lin, the Resident Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the Federation. Â
This project is designed to strengthen the Federation’s services and access to mental wellness care. It will run for three years until July 2024 and is also the third ICDF-supported health project in St Kitts and Nevis.
Prime Minister Drew shared glimpses of the signing ceremony on his official Facebook Page and stated, “Mental wellness is essential, especially when a significant percentage of our people need access to mental wellness care to enhance their overall well-being.
The Prime Minister committed to the people that access to mental wellness services would be a significant pillar of the revamped healthcare system. Mental wellness will receive the necessary investment as any other sphere of health, as it is critical in establishing a sustainable island state.
Drew highlighted the importance of the project, especially in the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, as that has triggered a wave of diagnoses of different forms of mental health afflictions.
Michael Lin added to his statement that a society that is well-educated about mental health would encourage people to reach out and ask for help when needed. He highlighted that the new project will continue these efforts and will also conduct education sections to share knowledge and information about mental health with the general public.
PM Terrance Drew also expressed his heartfelt gratitude, saying, “Thanks to the Republic of China (Taiwan), which partners with us in our effort to expand access to mental wellness care.”
