This past February, the Department of Health Protection was privileged to receive two vehicles from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) following vehicle losses as a result of Hurricane Irma. On Thursday, June 21st, the Department stood once again to benefit from the presentation of two more vehicles which were, this time, donated by Public Health England (PHE).
The short handing-over ceremony, which involved a small company of officials, was chaired by the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Aisha Andrewin. The keys to the vehicles were presented by HE Governor, Tim Foy, to the Hon. Evans McNiel Rogers, Minister with responsibility for Health.
Minister Rogers commented in part: “I wish to thank the Government of the United Kingdom and Public Health England for making such a great gesture in providing the Department of Health Protection with these much needed vehicles. I would also like to thank HE Governor Foy for the work that he is doing, and continues to do, to help us to be more resilient.
“In addition, I wish to thank the folks in Environmental Health for the hard work that they have been doing under some very limited conditions. I would like to thank everyone who would have contributed in enabling us to build resilience, not only from an infrastructural point of view, but also from a healthcare perspective.” Finally, the Minister expressed gratitude to the taxpayers of the UK for making the provision of the vehicles possible.
The Director of the Department of Health Protection, Mr. Ambrell Richardson, expressed much gratitude for the vehicles.
In this regard, he said: “I am pleased to convey gratitude to Public Health England of the United Kingdom Government (UKG) for the donation of these gifts, post Hurricane Irma, being officially turned over today.
“The Department of Health Protection is extremely appreciative for the timely donation of these two vehicles: a 2018 Hyundai Tuscon Jeep, and a 2018 Nissan Frontier Pickup, with a combined worth of some EC$207,000. These vehicles will serve as a symbol of UKG partnership and commitment to the Government of Anguilla and its people.”
Finally, Mr. Foster Rogers, Permanent Secretary of Health and Lands, rendered the vote of thanks saying: “Let me first and foremost thank Almighty God for His many blessings, over the past few months, as we strive together to make Anguilla better and more resilient. We also thank Him in advance for the many blessings yet to be bestowed on our island home, which we are expecting as His providence.
“I would like to thank Public Health England for all of their assistance given to the Government and people of Anguilla, over the last few years, in the form of technical advice, training and supplies and equipment. In particular, I wish to say thanks today to PHE, on behalf of the Government of Anguilla and our people, for the two vehicles that are being handed over to the Department of Health Protection today.”
The Anguilla Department of Health Protection is a partner with Public Health England in a mission to eradicate the threat of mosquito borne illnesses, and to protect against outbreaks of such diseases as Chikungunya, Dengue and ZIKA. These two vehicles, along with the others donated previously, will serve to aid in that challenging but relentless mission.
