Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper - UNDP Barbados and the OECS ...

evaluation of the beneficiaries’ living conditions as well as the development of
programmes which would allow the indigent to break the poverty cycle.
Churches, non-governmental organizations, civic organizations and community groups
provide other social development services for the poor. These range from assistance with
basic needs such as shelter, food and clothing to the development of community
programmes in literacy, numeracy and self-esteem for adults; providing child care
services and training for self-employment for youth and identification of opportunities in
micro-enterprise. The pace of assistance and development is often limited by and
dependent on their ability to access financial resources.
There is at present legislation before Parliament to revive local government and
legislation to regulate and sustain NGOs is also being considered.
3.4 Health Services
The Ministry of Health and the Environment is the main provider of health care. This
care is provided through the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (the main referral hospital),
the five District Hospitals and thirty-nine Health Centres throughout St Vincent and the
Grenadines. The range of services includes programmes of primary, secondary and
tertiary care. The services offered are heavily subsidized by the Government. These
include Maternal and Child Health Services, Community based health care, provision of
pharmaceuticals and institutionalized care. The services, which impact most on the poor
are those provided through the subsidized medications and those provided to the aged.
The Lewis Punnett Home is the main home for the indigent poor. Most persons housed
there are elderly and unable to take care of themselves or their relatives have abandoned
them. Due to limited resources the home is at present unable to accept all persons
requiring admission especially males.
Mental Health services are provided through the Mental Hospital. This facility, although
requiring serious upgrading, meets the needs of the poor. Family Planning, Nutrition
Education and Health Education are also provided. These services represent a significant
input to poverty reduction efforts as they impact on the quality of the productive
workforce and act as a safety net for the poor. The Government offers assistance to
indigent persons who because of the unavailability of specific health services require
overseas medical attention.
The Government is concerned about the issue of HIV/AIDS. Over the period 1984 –
2000, there have been 547 diagnosed cases of HIV with 299 deaths from AIDS. At
present there is a major initiative to develop programmes and services to address the
problem in the country. A strategy of supporting Persons Living With AIDS (PLWA’s)
has been developed by the Ministry of Health and the Environment and a cross-sectional
task force has been established. A National Strategic Plan based on a unified multisectoral
approach was launched in December 2001.
Final SVG I-PRSP Revision June 2003
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