As personnel with management roles in the Health Authority of Anguilla began a five-day training workshop on Monday, July 27, Minister of Health and Social Development, Mr. Evans McNiel Rogers, informed them that one of the Government’s priorities for the island was a modern-day medical facility.
He was delighted that the leadership training was being facilitated by Dr. Akhentoolove Carbon, a lecturer at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies, and underscored the importance of such training. “Dr. Corbin mentioned about strategic-planning and project management. We would want this to feed into the national objectives and the national priorities as well,” the Minister said. “And I would state here that one of the national priorities for health in Anguilla is for us to be able to construct a modern-day medical facility…of which a hospital would be the main focus.”
Mr. Rogers went on: “I make no apologies, and I will not leave politics until that is accomplished. I have already started the groundwork in order to be able to raise the money to make sure that this is accomplished. Now, what is a modern-day medical complex without requisite, competent and trained staff? It is nothing. What is the purpose of having a well-trained staff if they are not exposed to the type of modern-day equipment and facility that you need? It is nothing – so you must have the human resource capacity and, having been trained, you must have the physical [facility]”.
The Minister, a trained health professional, who annually updates his medical credits and knowledge, commented further on the importance of management training, including strategic planning and public relations as necessary elements in the delivery of healthcare.
Earlier, Mrs. Meridith Gumbs, Human Resources Manager, stated in part: “If we are to provide the quality care that is expected by our citizens and visitors, we, as managers, must ensure that we equip ourselves with relevant and current knowledge. This is particularly because this supports increased productivity, empowers, builds confidence, motivates and helps with the management and mitigation of conflict.
“This is critical particularly in our environment where our main goal is saving lives. This level of training provides an avenue where, together, heads of department are able to brainstorm about ways to have departments complement each other or work toward different goals. When department heads understand the goals of other departments, it becomes easier to focus all energies into the bigger picture. Again this approach to management is critical in healthcare.”
Mrs. Gumbs said the training would expose the participants to such topics as Leadership and Human Resource Management; Strategic Planning and Project Management; Result-Oriented Communication and Public Relations and Ethics in Public Sector Organisations.
Chief Executive Officer, Mr. George Brown, now in his ninth month of appointment, said that the management training was an initiative which he had undertaken in consultation with his executive team and heads of department of the Health Authority.
“This necessary initiative is another step towards a transformed Health Authority of Anguilla,” he explained. “It should also signify the very obvious point that we are moving in the right direction based on the topics that will be addressed this week.” He said that the topics mentioned above were all aligned to provide a better-run organisation, and to enable the Health Authority to deliver what was expected by its clients.
Dr. Carbon, the Facilitator, told the participants that the training was very practical and aligned to the national health priorities of Anguilla; and it was aimed at making the Health Authority more competitive, and an institution able to meet the needs of stakeholders.
The objectives of the training, which Dr. Carbon set out in his manual, were outlined as follows: To enhance managers’ and supervisors’ leadership and human resource management capabilities; improve the planning and project management processes in the Health Authority of Anguilla; develop the communication competencies of participants; and identify and practice the ethical practices that are important for the Health Authority.
