The Anguilla Social Security Board is celebrating 39 years of “improving the quality of life for all”. The Social Security Board’s mission is “to transform the quality of life in Anguilla by providing meaningful Social Security, community empowerment, and national development”. In keeping with our mission statement, the Board has chosen as this year’s theme “Social Security: Promoting a Culture of Health and Financial Security”.
The first part of the theme deals with promoting a culture of health, which is vital both for us as individuals and for a vibrant social security system. There is an old saying that “people should not live to eat but eat to live”. The statement is so profound, especially in the world full of readily available inexpensive fast food and sugary drinks. Unhealthy eating habits cause potential cancers, heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure and the list goes on. Anguilla has seen a rise in these health risks in the past decades. There has to be a paradigm shift toward healthy eating habits, exercise, yearly or bi-yearly medical checkups at the doctor’s office. We have to be proactive in ensuring our one and only body is well maintained to live a long and fruitful life.
The Social Security Board is always seeking ways to assist the health and well-being of Anguilla’s people. It was for this reason that the Social Security Board committed the largest donation toward Anguilla’s new CT Scan machine. The Social Security Board, along with the Anguilla Electricity Company, major insurance companies and private citizens made the dream of having a CT Scan in Anguilla a reality. The CT Scan is a machine that can detect some health issues such as heart disease, cancer, liver masses, bone and joint problems. It is operational at the Hospital and readily available to the public.
This week, the Social Security Board is proud to host the 13th Caribbean Conference on National Health Financing Initiatives. The Conference, from November 6th – 8th, which has as its theme “Health Financing: Fiscal Space and Sustainability Challenges”, will involve experts presenting and discussing a wide range of topics. On November 6th there will be sessions such as “Confronting Economic and Policy Challenges in the Universal Agenda, National Health Policy Issues in the Transition to Universal Coverage. On November 7th there will be sessions such as Building Sustainable Health Financing Systems. Throughout this day, the topics will range from regulatory requirements and oversight to enable financial sustainability, to advancing action on establishment of the National Health Insurance plan. On the night of Thursday, November 7th, there will be a public lecture by Dr. Stanley Lalta, co-sponsored by the Board and The University of the West Indies Open Campus Anguilla, advancing the conference theme “Connecting the Dots: Patterns of Work, Health and the Future of Social Security in the Caribbean”. The Conference concludes on November 8th with sessions discussing New Directions in Universal Coverage and Health Financing.
On behalf of the Social Security Board, I would like to congratulate the management and staff for their hard work and planning of such a very important conference that will provide valuable advice and guidance as the Government of Anguilla and the Social Security Board move forward with plans to introduce a National Health Insurance plan in the near future.
The second part of the Board’s theme deals with Financial Security. This is of course the most important aspect of the Social Security System, because unless the Social Security System is strong and sustainable, it will not be able to provide meaningful social security benefits that will allow our citizens to have financial security when they face illness, loss of income, or retirement. However, its continued strength depends on a strong economy, high levels of compliance, prudent investment, and proper administration. I thank the Government of Anguilla, the Premier who serves as Minister for Social Security, fellow members of the Board and Staff, for continuing to work hard to ensure that these objectives are achieved.
In conclusion, I am happy to report that the Social Security System continues to grow from strength to strength. I thank you, the general public for your continued support to the Social Security System, and I invite you to support the Social Security Office in its week of activities.
Sean Richard
Chairman Anguilla Social Security Board
