MISSION

To provide and ensure high quality oral health services to all sectors of the population in the Turks and Caicos Islands, by promoting oral health awareness, through cost effective, efficient preventative and curative dental procedures and rehabilitation in collaboration with other health care providers.

DENTAL HISTORY

Dr. Donald Oliver Astwood founded the dental department in 1926, becoming the first Chief Dental Officer and the first local professional Dentist in the Turks & Caicos Islands. Dr. Donald Astwood served until 1971 before handing the department over to his son Dr. Leopold Astwood.

Dr. Leopold Astwood. who became the second local to take up the post of Chief Dental Officer. Dr. Leopold Astwood served from 1971 until 1998 before retiring; he now resides in Grand Turk.

DENTAL SERVICES

• The Division of Dental Health is responsible for the planning, developing, coordinating and delivering Dental Health Services throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands.
• Ensuring that services are accessible to all residents on the islands.
• Monitoring oral diseases and reducing the incidence and prevalence of Dental Disease.
• Formulating policies in an ever-changing environment, so as to deliver high quality and comprehensive dental services to all.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS THAT ARE ON-STREAM WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT DENTAL CLINICS INCLUDE

• School Dental Health Program (School children 0-18 yrs)
• Her Majesty Prison Program
• Wellness Center Program
• Ante-Natal & Post-Natal Program
• Oral Health Promotion Programs (radio & television)
• SNAP Center Program
• The Dental Division is guided by the Turks & Caicos Islands Medical Ordinance

DENTAL FEES

DENTAL CLINICS

There are two main Dental clinics on the islands, one in Grand Turk, located in the Cockburn town Medical Center and one at the Cheshire Hall Medical Center in Providenciales. There are five satellite clinics located in South Caicos , North Caicos , Middle Caicos and Salt Cay. In general, these clinics serve the population of the Turks and Caicos Islands, with the majority of the population living on the island of Providenciales, additional Basic Dental Services are delivered via a Mobile Dental Unit.

CONTACT INFORMATION / HOURS OF OPERATION

All Government Dental Clinics operate between the hours of 8:00 am-4: 30 pm on weekdays and close on weekends and public holidays.

WHAT IS EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE?

Emergency medical service (EMS), is a pre- hospital care whose purpose is to respond quickly to emergency situation regarding medical issues, traumatic injuries and accident scenes.

PROVISIONS BY THE DEPARTMENT

This service has provide and will continue to provide for the community for many years. Some of these provisions are:

• Treatment
• Assessment of patients
• Transports (dialysis, medevac and shut-ins)
• Community out reach ( teaching cpr, splinting, etc)

HOURS OF OPERATION

This operations runs 24/7,meaning any time you or anyone that you know is in need all.you have to do it call 911 and we will be there.

CONTACT INFORMATION

If anyone has a problem reaching 911 , you can call the following numbers:

LIST OF STAFF

These are the names of the men and women that trained and dedicated their time to.make sure that whatever the emergency is you will get the best of care.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

The EMS department offers many programs that helps educate the public so that instead waiting on someone to come to save a life , they can help by giving firsthand experience they have to help assist the emergency medical technicians. Some of.these programs are:

• First aid
• First aid and CPR training - this is now.being taught in every primary and high schools

NEWS / HEALTH PROMOTION

Emergency Medical Services provide promotions when it comes to the public health. Such promotions are:

• Hand hygiene
• Foot hygiene etc

FUNCTIONS

The National Health Planning and Promotion Unit works with Ministry Units/Departments to develop, implement, monitor and evaluate health legislation, policies, plans, programmes and campaigns aimed at improving the health and well-being of persons residing in the TCI.

The Unit has seven major functions:

1. Health planning and policy development;
2. Policy analysis and advice;
3. Programme/project development;
4. Monitoring and evaluation;
5. Community engagement and partnership development;
6. Resource mobilization; and
7. Coordinate with Ministry staff to carryout technical assistance objectives set forth in the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) Biennial Work Plan

HEALTH PLANNING AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT

Health planning involves the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of health plans and policies intended to improve the health and well-being of the TCI.

POLICY ANALYSIS AND ADVISE

Policy analysis involves defining a problem and evaluation criteria; identifying and evaluating alternatives; and making recommendations for the policy accordingly. Policy analysis uses both qualitative methods and quantitative methods, including case studies, survey research, statistical analysis, and model building.

PROGRAMME / PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

The act of developing and/or improving by expanding a service, project or program; development of terms of reference (TORs) and request for proposals (RFPs) or expression of interests (EOIs) for a service or product; and development of proposals for research or demonstration (e.g., pilot programme).

MONITORING, EVALUATION, & RESEARCH

Monitoring and evaluation involves the collection and assessment of relevant information to determine the usefulness and effectiveness of health services, programmes and activities to enhance knowledge and decision-making.

COMMUINITY ENGAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Community engagement and partnership development with organizations, agencies and individuals to bring resources, expertise and/or credibility to health services, activities and programmes.

RESOURCE MOBILIZATION

The process of raising different types of support for the Ministry including financial sponsorship, technical assistance and in-kind support. This process includes but is not limited to:

1. Submitting a proposal to a potential sponsor agency;
2. Requesting volunteer support where volunteers provide their time and resources to support the work of the Ministry;
3. Requesting in kind technical assistance; and
4. Submitting regional and/or international grant proposals.

FUNCTIONS

The NHPAU works with MOH departments and units to develop campaigns aimed at improving the health and well-being of persons residing in the TCI. The Unit aims to make health promotion, injury prevention and disease prevention, management and control an integral part of society and public policy. The intent is to help people achieve a state of optimal health and take individual and collective responsibility for making healthy lifestyle choices.

The Unit has four major functions:

1. Health promotion and disease prevention and control;
2. Monitoring and evaluation; and
3. Community engagement and partnership development.
4. Advocacy

MISSION

To help people achieve a state of optimal health and take individual and collective responsibility for making healthy lifestyle choices and making health promotion and disease and injury prevention an integral part of society and public policy.

Good health is a major resource for social, economic and personal development and an important dimension of quality of life. Political, economic, social, cultural, environmental, behavioural and biological factors can all favour health or be harmful to it. Health promotion action aims at making these conditions favourable through advocacy for health.

PURPOSE & FUNCTION

The National Epidemiology and Research Unit (NERU) was created in 2007 as an independent unit of the Ministry of Health, Agriculture and Human Services (MOHAHS) to promote public health and safety in TCI and improve the delivery of health services and health outcomes in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI).

NERU is in charge of disease surveillance and spearheading/conducting essential health research within the MOHAHS. This includes leading and conducting surveillance activities to monitor the determinants and distribution of diseases in the population, while strengthening the capacity of the MOHAHS to identify and effectively investigate and respond to disease outbreaks in a timely manner. This in turn minimizes the adverse impacts on the citizens and the economy of the TCI.

NERU also conducts research to generate health information to be used to inform health policy development, health in all policy (HiAP) development, evidence-informed decision-making, and the timely development and implementation of health interventions. Research endeavours thus far have focused on the ongoing assessment of health and nutritional status of school children and adolescents, measuring the impact of interventions, which consisted of infused health messages, into a sample of the nation’s elementary school curriculum; and conducting a seafood consumption and illness survey, which focused primarily on Ciguatera Food Poisoning (CFP) in TCI. Research on the risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is underway.

SERVICES PROVIDED

Whenever possible, NERU assists governmental agencies with essential health research including, but not limited to, assistance with research protocols, data analysis and scientific writing.

NERU disseminates epidemiological information in the form of newsletters, workshops, presentations both locally and regionally to ensure the stakeholders and partners are kept abreast of pertinent information and developments in public health.

NERU also chairs the National Surveillance Committee/Network of the MOHAHS.

MISSION

VISION

Providing world standard healthcare to the communities and residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

SERVICES CURRENTLY PROVIDED

• Norovirus Testing (PCR)
•  Influenza A/B Testing (PCR)
• RSV Testing (PCR)
• SARS-CoV-2 Testing (PCR)
• Blood Donor Collection

CONTACT US

MISSION

“To ensure that every person with special needs grow and develop to their full potential”

VISION

To improve the quality of life and independence of the elderly and persons living with special needs through access to dedicated residential aged care and wellness centers, assessment opportunities rehabilitative and therapeutic services and specializes learning centers.

OBJECTIVES

1. Develop policies, criteria, procedures for all special needs programs in the Turks & Caicos Islands;
2. Compile and maintain a National Registry of all persons with special needs with the Turks & Caicos Islands;
3. Develop and design and programs to enhance the lives of persons residing in the Centers upholding their dignity and pride in a friendly, caring and comforting environment;
4. Provide therapeutic programs (occupational and speech/language);
5. Liaise with government department and civic organizations in the recreation and enhancement for persons with special needs;
6. Increase the public understanding and awareness of persons with special needs;
7. Develop a support network for families of special needs persons throughout the islands;

SERVICES AND PROGRAMS

1. SNAP Center

Motto: “I am a Promise and a Possibility”

The Special Needs Association of Providenciales (SNAP) Center provides intellectual and life skills opportunities for children and young persons with disabilities. Ages 4 -20

2. Wellness Centers

Motto: “Upholding Pride and dignity in a comfortable environment.”

The Wellness Centers are designed to provide twenty-four hour care to vulnerable persons (elderly/special needs) who may not have immediate relatives to provide adequate care, protection and lacks financial resources to access care.

The Centers are also transitional centers for the elderly and special needs persons that require additional medical care after being discharged from the Hospital for a period to be determined by management of the Special Needs Unit and a medical practitioner.

Persons are accepted on a priority and availability basis.

There are two (2) Centers one (1) in Grand Turk providing services for the elderly and special needs and one in South Caicos for the elderly.

3. Therapeutic Services (Visiting)

• Speech/Language Pathologist
• Occupational Therapist
• Behavioral Therapist
• Neuro-Psychologist

DAYS OF OBSERVANCE

LIST OF STAFF