June 13, 2016: The Honourable Terrence Deyalsingh, Minister of Health delivered an address at the Southern Academy of the Performing Arts for the Photo Exhibit Ribbon Cutting/Viewing of Neurosurgery Equipment/Opening Ceremony of the Trinidad and Tobago – China International Neuroendoscopic Conference and Workshop.
The following are his remarks:
His Excellency Hoo-ang Zhee-ang-hoo-ann, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Trinidad and Tobago
Ms. Donna Ferraz and Mr. Richard Madray, Permanent Secretaries, Ministry of Health
Mr. Lu Yuming – Deputy Director General of the Beijing Municipal Health and Family Planning Commission
Mr. Zhoo Jee-an-lee, President of the Shee-jee-hee-tan Hospital in Beijing
Professor Zhang Yaz-huo – President, Beijing
Neurosurgical Institute
Professor Dyer Narinesingh – President, UTT
Dr. Hoo Zhee-kee-ang– Head of the Chinese Medical Team (CMT) in Trinidad and Tobago – and other members of the CMT
Executive and Staff of the Ministry of Health and the Regional Health Authorities
Local and International Speakers
Medical students
Ladies and Gentlemen
Media
Good Morning and welcome.
Today is an important occasion for us in Trinidad and Tobago since it marks the third neurosciences conference that we are hosting, as well as the culmination of two years of close cooperation in Health with the People’s Republic of China.
Your Excellency Ambassador Hoo-Ang: once again, on behalf of the people and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, we welcome you and your distinguished delegation from Beijing. We are honoured that you are here.
I also wish to warmly welcome our international visitors. We are glad you are here and hope you enjoy your stay in Trinidad and Tobago.
Today, the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, in conjunction with the Government of the People’s Republic of China – via the Chinese Medical Team, is pleased to host this important educational activity. Thank you all for your attendance at today’s opening ceremony.
Ladies and Gentlemen: our connection with the People’s Republic of China is centuries old, with the most direct connection beginning more than 200 years ago when the first Chinese indentured labourers arrived in what was at that time, the British colony of Trinidad.
Diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago were established on the 20th of June 1974. The Chinese government established an Embassy in Port of Spain in April 1975, with Trinidad and Tobago establishing its own embassy in Beijing in 2014. In fact, Prime Minister Eric Williams was the first Head of Government to visit China in 1974. Our existing foundation of strong ties shared between our countries, bodes well for deeper engagement in the future.
I would like to thank the Government of China for its commitment to Trinidad and Tobago for technical cooperation in Health. In 2014, our governments signed an MOU which allowed for the provision of four teams of subspecialist health professionals from China over a period of two years. I have been informed that these teams have not only provided yeoman service to our people, but also helped to boost capacity at our health institutions. This very conference is a tangible output of our cooperation agreement with the People’s Republic of China.
Ladies and Gentlemen: Neurosurgery is on the rise in Trinidad and Tobago.
The presence of everyone here today certainly demonstrates collective interest and continued commitment to continuously improving the quality of care – in this instance, the neurosciences – to the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
All medical specialties play a role in Health, but some have a more dramatic impact than others. For example, neurological surgeons treat conditions of the brain and nervous system that can have subtle and far-reaching effects. Surgically correcting problems of perception, mobility issues or pain often has an immediate and dramatic impact on the patient's quality of life.
Globally, over six million people die each year from readily treatable surgical conditions, surpassing the number of annual deaths caused by HIV, malaria and tuberculosis combined. Non-communicable diseases or NCDs, many of which require neurosurgical management, further contribute to the burden of death and disability.
The Government of Trinidad and Tobago is committed to improving quality and safety in the public health sector and we are committed to ensuring that health professionals are the ones to lead these improvements. With global partnerships such as these, combined with our own efforts, the quality of healthcare in Trinidad and Tobago will continue to improve.
In closing, the success of these, and future health care initiatives, is hinged upon the active participation and support of partners inclusive of governments, the private sector, NGOs and the citizenry. We have no greater priority than to ensure high quality and equitable access to health care for our citizenry. Thank you and all the best for a successful conference.
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The Corporate Communications Unit
Ministry of Health
868-625-7979