Health

Premier and Minister of Finance the Honourable Reuben T. Meade has confirmed that the new hospital will be equipped once completed. Speaking at a public meeting in Salem he announced that the government will allocate 5 million dollars as funds become available. This is in addition to 4 million dollars which were already allocated. Premier Meade told the audience that the government is unable to reduce taxes on fuel as the funds are needed for purchasing this critical equipment for the hospital. He said the Ministry of Health “will have the funds to provide the critical equipment and then later on in the year depending on how the budget is going, we will be in a position to provide the rest of the money.” Premier Meade responded to claims that the government is collecting additional fuel taxes, saying “yes, we have to collect the additional taxes because that’s where the money is going to come from. So, if you give off the taxes in terms of fuel subsidies, as you and your team have been proposing, we would not be able to generate those additional funds.” He says Montserrat cannot afford to follow other islands like Antigua which were “subsidizing fuel to the tune of I think either $1.50 or $2.50 per gallon. It is now costing [them] $40 million in lost revenue which [they] cannot afford. Montserrat cannot go along that line. We follow prudent fiscal management here in Montserrat and in spite of all the criticisms you and your team may wish to make, we will continue prudent fiscal management.”

Pink Ribbon Charity Montserrat has announce its programme of activities for October 2026, bringing together breast cancer awareness, breast health promotion and an expanded focus on diabetic foot health and podiatry services. This year’s programme encourages residents to take a proactive approach to their health. Breast health checks and mammograms are available throughout the year, and women are encouraged to speak with their doctor about annual breast health checks and mammograms. Persons wishing to book a FREE mammogram at the Belmont Clinic in Antigua may WhatsApp or call 496-7465, or WhatsApp +44 7960 480505. A special feature of this year’s programme is Feet for Life: Podiatry Clinics, an initiative highlighting the importance of foot health, particularly for persons living with diabetes. Activities will include the Feet for Life: Podiatry Symposium on Monday, October 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Salem Community Resource Centre, along with Podiatry Clinics from October 26–31 at the same venue. On Wednesday, October 28 at 3:00 p.m., Talking Health on ZJB Radio will focus on Breast Cancer Awareness and Podiatry Clinics, giving listeners an opportunity to learn more about the services and activities being offered. The programme will also feature a Charity Dinner at Olveston House on Wednesday, October 28. Guests will have an opportunity to meet the podiatrists at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $150 and go on sale September 15, 2026. Tickets will be available from Olveston House, telephone 491-3942, and Saje Café, telephone 495-2233. On Friday, October 30, Montserrat is invited to celebrate Pink Friday. Residents are encouraged to wear something pink and decorate their offices and business places in pink, creating a visible island-wide show of support for breast cancer awareness. On Saturday, October 31, the October programme concludes with the Breast Cancer and Diabetic Foot Health Awareness Glow Walk — A White T-Shirt Affair. The walk begins at 6:00 p.m. from the Lookout Community Centre and finishes at Little Bay. Participants are asked to wear a white T-shirt for safety and better visibility during the night walk. Pink glow accessories will represent breast cancer awareness, while blue glow sticks will promote diabetes awareness and highlight the importance of diabetic foot care in reducing avoidable amputations. Pink Ribbon Charity Montserrat Inc. invites the entire community to participate in the October activities, support the charity’s work and, most importantly, make breast and foot health a priority. Save the dates and join us throughout October 2026. More details will be announced soon.

A review of diabetes-related hospital admissions in Montserrat has identified 15 lower-limb amputations over a five-year period, prompting the introduction of a standardized diabetic foot-risk assessment tool aimed at reducing preventable limb loss here. The findings were presented by NHS Community Practice Educator Rachel Jackson during the Ministry of Health’s Fourth Annual Research Day, on the topic, “Reducing Diabetic Amputations at Glendon Hospital: Implementing a Standardised Diabetic Foot Risk Stratification Tool.” She said Montserrat has a high prevalence of diabetes and hypertension and she undertook “a retrospective review of admissions to the ward between 2020 and 2025 and I identified 15 diabetes-related amputations.” Jackson noted that this “equates to roughly one in every 293 residents undergoing an amputation over a five-year period.” So this project addresses the critical and disproportionately high rates of diabetes-related amputations on the island of Montserrat,” explained the Professional Nurse Advocate.  To help address the issue, Jackson introduced an island-wide Diabetic Foot Risk Stratification Tool, now in use across both hospital and community healthcare centres on island. The tool provides a standardized approach to assessing patients, identifying those at higher risk and ensuring timely referral and treatment. Jackson noted that evidence suggests up to 85 per cent of diabetes-related amputations can be prevented through early identification and intervention. The initiative also includes patient education leaflets to encourage regular foot care and help individuals recognize warning signs before complications develop. The project has since been handed over to local healthcare professionals, who will oversee its continued implementation and integration into routine clinical practice.

A mental health practitioner has identified early screening and intervention as ways to improve mental health outcomes in Montserrat. Acting Community Mental Health Nurse, Donique Layne was presenting the findings of a six-year review on mental health diagnoses, referrals and service use at the Ministry of Health’s Fourth Annual Research Day. Layne said anxiety and depression, particularly among women, often begin years before they are diagnosed. She noted that symptoms frequently go unrecognized until the conditions have progressed, highlighting the need for earlier detection through initiatives such as workplace mental health screenings. She stated that often “when these persons are diagnosed with anxiety or depression, the onset would have been way before. So when you take the history and you interview them, you find out that these symptoms would have started maybe a few years before, but it was never picked up.” Layne said that “going forward, we’re hoping to improve on that by doing screening within the workplace where we’re able to identify stressors early and intervene at an earlier stage so that we can prevent them from when they do come to us, that we’re not seeing them when the disease has already progressed.”  “In contrast with trauma-related disorder, which presents quickly after onset, and of course, this has a direct link. We know that the trauma is related to something that actually happened, a physical event that would have happened in that person’s life,” Layne explained.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services has announced the launch of Wellness in Motion, a new mobile health clinic initiative designed to bring essential preventive health services directly into communities across Montserrat. The programme aims to make healthcare more accessible by taking services beyond the traditional clinic setting and into villages, workplaces and community spaces. By reducing barriers to care, the initiative encourages residents to take a proactive approach to their health through regular screening, education, and early detection. The mobile clinic will operate on the first and last Friday of each month, visiting communities across Montserrat to provide a range of free health services. These services include Blood pressure checks, Blood sugar (glucose) screening, Other health checks, Health education, and opportunities to speak with healthcare professionals and receive advice on maintaining good health. Acting Director of Primary Health Care Services, Penny Maloney, said the initiative reflects the Ministry’s commitment to making preventive healthcare more convenient and accessible. She notes that many chronic illnesses, including diabetes and hypertension, can develop silently before symptoms appear. Mrs. Maloney further explains that wellness in Motion is about meeting people where they are, making it easier to know their health status, ask questions, and access professional advice before problems become more serious. She says the Ministry’s vision is for the mobile clinic to become a regular part of the services offered through Primary Health Care, ensuring that preventive healthcare is consistently brought into the communities. The programme officially launches on Friday, 7 August, with the mobile clinic travelling from St. John’s Centre to Sweeney’s between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. The second clinic will take place on Friday, 28 August, serving communities from Davy Hill to Little Bay between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Ministry encourages residents to take advantage of the service by stopping at the mobile clinic during its scheduled visits. Whether individuals wish to check their blood pressure, monitor their blood sugar, seek health information, or simply speak with a member of the healthcare team, ‘Wellness in Motion’ provides a convenient opportunity to do so close to home. Residents are encouraged to follow the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Government of Montserrat Facebook page for monthly schedules, routine updates and additional health promotion activities. ‘Wellness in Motion’ represents another step in the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening primary healthcare and ensuring that quality health services are accessible to every community across Montserrat.