NASSAU, The Bahamas -- The primary aim of the newly launched Wellness Unit is to provide an opportunity for Bahamians to manage their own health and well-being.

That, according to the Minister of Health and Wellness the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville during the official launch of the Wellness Unit under the theme: 'Your Wellness Matters.'  The ceremony took place Thursday, March 23, 2023 at Baha Mar Resort.  Prime Minister the Hon Philip Davis delivered the keynote address.

“This morning I am truly humbled to be a part of the launch of my ministry’s Wellness Unit here at the beautiful Baha Mar Resort,” Dr. Darville said.

“To be very honest, over the next few years this essential unit will become one of the cornerstones at the Ministry of Health & Wellness and I remain grateful to the Bahamian people and our Prime Minister for affording me this wonderful opportunity to serve as minister with the responsibility for the health and wellness of the nation,” he added.

The creation of the Wellness Unit is in keeping with the Davis Administration’s 'Blueprint for Change,' which speaks to a transformative healthcare agenda as a key priority.

And, during his last Budget contribution, Dr. Darville identified a new line item specifically aimed at targeting Health and Wellness Programs, the collection of evidence--based data and research that will help shape healthcare policies and protocols.

“My ministry’s Wellness Unit will lead the charge in each community to ensure that young and old alike benefit from programs that aim to promote positive lifestyle changes with specific focus on nutrition, physical activity and mental wellbeing,” Dr. Darville said.

“I am excited where we are going and moving forward; this new Wellness Unit will lead the way in convincing Bahamians everywhere to play an active role in the management of their own health,” he added.

The minister shared that the local and international epidemiological evidence confirms that properly managed wellness programs, combined with positive lifestyle modifications, have become essential healthcare tools in reducing premature death and improving favorable health outcomes across the country.

“A healthy nation is not only important for our development, but also lowers the cost in delivering quality primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare services,” Dr. Darville said.

He continued, “Having a nation that is healthy is paramount to succession planning and going forward wellness must be fully engrafted into our national developmental plan because Your Wellness Truly Matters!”

He noted that since coming to office in 2021 his team at the Ministry of Health & Wellness have been working fervently to assess and evaluate the current needs of the healthcare system, “while implementing strategies and initiatives aimed at improving, reassessing, reevaluating, and taking action to ensure that our healthcare system operates efficiently within the set parameters of my ministry’s overall vision for healthcare.”

He assured that throughout the country, his ministry is conducting major clinic infrastructural upgrades, adjusting protocols and implementing digital platforms inclusive of a new-digital medical record, a game changer in the delivery of primary healthcare and emergency medical transport services.

“But I cannot overemphasize the importance wellness and medical screening play in the early detection of diseases and swift treatment strategy at the community level that will save lives,” he stressed.

Dr. Darville also said that the recruitment of specialty medical manpower resources and training for Bahamian healthcare professionals is currently at the forefront of his ministry’s aggressive agenda in order to stay on the cutting edge of healthcare.

“As we speak recruitment is ongoing not only to fill the gaps that currently exist across the country but to add additional tools necessary to change negative behavioral patterns associated with the high incidence of non-compliance,” he said.

A few months ago, Dr. Darville laid in Parliament the new National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill that will repeal and replace the current 2016 NHI Act.
This new legislation will cause his ministry to jump-start the expansion of primary healthcare services and make way for public healthcare clinics to become providers in the NHI network.

“This is big and will pave the way for catastrophic healthcare,” he said.
Dr. Darville further noted that on March 22, 2023 in the House of Assembly, he reported on the “shocking findings” in the recent National Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Risk Factor STEPS Survey.

“We intend to turn the corner and my team of healthcare professionals will work along with the Pan American Health Organization, the Healthy Bahamas Coalition, private sector groups, specialists in the industry and Bahamians everywhere to ensure meaningful changes happen,” he said.