Bahamas’ Haitian population is the largest at-risk group for communicable diseases

Health chiefs target 'at-risk' Haitians
By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net:



HEALTH officials are targeting the Bahamas’ Haitian population as the largest at-risk group for communicable diseases.

Public health sectors are now focusing more attention on “bridging the gap” between health personnel and the largest migrant population in the country.

The lack of communication between the Creole-speaking communities and the healthcare system greatly reduces their chances for prevention and early detection of diseases, according to Christine Campbell, managing director of the HIV/AIDS Centre.

She emphasized the need to establish and maintain contact with non-English speaking communities to gain greater understanding of patients and their cultural norms.

Ms Campbell said: “If we can get more persons in the medical field trained in the language, in the very least it will ensure confidentiality and ensure whatever is being said medically is translated in its true form.

“I think it will help bridge a gap culturally and in terms of sensitisation, I think we all know there is a need for that. There still remains a lot of misunderstandings regarding this most at-risk grouping.”

The centre’s first step was taken last week Tuesday when representatives from the AIDS centre met with religious and community leaders of Creole-speaking communities. Also present at the meeting, voluntarily, were members from the Department of Public Service.

Ms Campbell said: “There were over 60 persons in attendance, it was good to see the faces of persons who would interface with this group. They had a lot of questions and this is the first step. This is very important to reduce risk and further spreading but it is also the rekindling of alliances and we hope that this is something that will continue and be sustained and bear fruit in so many different ways for all aspects of healthcare in the future.”

At the meeting, community leaders responded to concerns of health officials towards conducting follow-ups for patients from migrant communities. It was said that the underground lifestyle of some migrants posed considerable challenges for preventative healthcare. Those present suggested possible amendments to medical forms that would provide for contact information of church or community affiliations.

Ms Campbell added: “We want to ensure that not only do these persons receive healthcare that we’re mandated to give, but also as a country we’re doing our humanitarian part – in terms of agreements that we would have signed on to.”

She said that by strengthening ties with community leaders, the centre hoped to attract volunteers for training with an intent to improve outreach efforts.

“They would be able to go out and present factual information to many of their various groups. To have them fully engaged and involved so there is better understanding and communication – sometimes simple misunderstandings can really have a detrimental affect.”

Efforts realised this year include the enrolment of personnel from various public health sectors into entry-level Creole language classes.

Future goals of this initiative include implementing a standard medical handbook which doctors, medical staff and patients would be able to reference, and – specific to the AIDS centre – the establishment of a mobile outreach unit with the aim of increasing outreach throughout the Family Islands.

Ms Campbell said: “We’re expanding as a community, a global village. We’re getting out of our 7 x 21 mentalities and understanding the need to grow and move forward, and that’s the way to a better Bahamas.”

July 30, 2010