Health and Wellness

March 2012
According to the Minister of Health, Mr. Fuad Khan, "Sixty per cent of all deaths in Trinidad and Tobago are as a result of CNCDs such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer.
The Ministry of Health is on a movement to Fight the Fat, a campaign aimed at spreading a wellness revolution throughout Trinidad and Tobago. This has been brought about as a result of the epidemic of chronic non communicable diseases, which has befallen us."
source: 2nd Annual Health and Wellness Exposition.

Children's Life Fund

The Children's Life Fund was created to provide funding and critical support specifically for children needing life saving, tertiary-level health care services. This Fund was launched in August 2010 by the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago.
source: Ministry of Health

Health Minister hosts International, Regional and Local Tobacco Control Organizations.

 March 7 2010
Senator the Honourable Jerry Narace Minister of Health hosted several representatives of international, regional and local tobacco control organizations at the Ministry of Health’s Head Office on March 03, 2010.  Those present at the meeting included Ms Lorraine Fry, General Manager of the Non-Smoker’s Rights Association of Canada, Ms Barbara McGah, Project Manager of the Caribbean Tobacco Control Project, and representatives of the Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Society.  The meeting was held to facilitate an exchange of learnings regarding tobacco control, including the achievements made by Trinidad and Tobago in implementing tobacco control legislation. The information shared at the meeting will provide guidance on the way forward to all the parties involved.
Source: Ministry of Health

Citizens of Trinidad and Tobago currently have access to free health care at approximately 102 public health centres and 7 hospitals located in both islands. Immunization programmes are well coordinated and a high percentage of children receive immunizations since it is a requirement for entry to the education system. A government programme provides free medication to senior citizens for 11 common ailments. Despite the implementation of numerous programmes, there is still a general discontent with the public health care system amongst citizens. The government promises to address these concerns with improved services and facilities in 2007.
Source: Ministry of Social Development

The Chronic Disease Assistance Programme (CDAP)

 provides citizens with free prescription drugs and other pharmaceutical items.
Source: Ministry of Health

Health Statistics from the Americas. 2006 edition. PAHO
The publication serves to display the extensive availability of detailed mortality data in countries of the Americas. It also highlights the importance of addressing deficiencies in data coverage and quality in order to improve the reliability and usefulness of registered mortality information. Despite improvements over the years, much more needs to be done to strengthen the civil registration and vital statistics systems in countries where they are deficient.
The Pan American Health Organization gratefully acknowledges the continued cooperation and support of its Member States in providing this information for dissemination. I am confident that this information can contribute toward health situation analyses used by policymakers to make decisions that improve the health of the populations of the Americas.