It was an elated Nurse Maria Moise who cut the ribbon to officially open the new Health and Wellness Centre in Bellevue Chopin, named in her honour, on Wednesday, March 3, 2021.
The Maria Moise Health and Wellness Centre is the latest in a series of new primary health care facilities to be officially commissioned and opened to the public. In an aim to provide easy access to health services for all sections of the community from the most vulnerable upwards, the Government has constructed twelve health and wellness centres through funding from the Citizenship By Investment Programme.
Montreal Management Consultants Establishment (MMCE) partnered with Government in the construction of these facilities. Falling in line with the Government’s plan to build a resilient nation, the Maria Moise Health and Wellness Centre is a reinforced concrete structure with impact resistant windows. It contains two examination rooms, doctor’s and nurse’s offices, two clinics, pharmacy and residential accommodation for medical staff.
Nurse Maria Moise known to those in her community as Teacher Maria served several communities throughout her long career to include Petite Savanne, Bagatelle, Grand Bay, Tete Morne and Bellevue Chopin. As a midwife Nurse Moise was known to respond to calls in the dark and wee morning hours, traversing through rivers or ravines. Many times, only with the assistance of a bouzai or flashlight, she conducted home deliveries caring for patients with both ante-partum as well as post-partum hemorrhage, with positive outcomes.
Nurse Moise retired from the public service in 2016, however she continues to provide nursing services through contractual employment.
Prime Minister Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit commended Nurse Moise for her service. Prime Minister Skerrit was particularly impressed with her dedication and commitment post Tropical Storm Erika in 2015. Prime Minister Skerrit called on Dominicans to be grateful for the high level of development that is taking place across the nation.
“We must not see the glass as half empty, we must see it as half full, because that is a sign gratitude,” PM Skerrit Stated.
Prime Minister Skerrit further noted that the construction of new health facilities is not the end of Government’s investment in health.
“My hope, my vision and my prayer is to get us to a point where we do not have to go overseas for health- care,” PM Skerrit said.
Parliamentary Representative for the Petite Savanne Constituency Hon. Dr. Kenneth Darroux is pleased with the commissioning of the new health facility. He described it as a significant milestone in honouring his commitment to his constituents.
“We were not only building homes, but indeed an entire community, and a safe and functioning health facility should of course be an integral part of any community,” Dr. Darroux stated.
Minister for Health, Wellness and New Health Investment Hon. Dr. Irving McIntyre called on the people of Bellevue Chopin to recognize the importance of this new health and wellness centre.
“Today is another great day for you the people of Bellevue Chopin. This is all part of the bigger picture that the Ministry for Health and the Government of Dominica has for health as regards to decentralizing health- care, making health available to everyone, everywhere,” Dr. McIntyre stated.
Source: http://news.gov.dm/news/5189-goverment-commissions-maria-moise-health-and-wellness-centre