President visits two health centres   ‘Aiming for a healthy nation’   By Roland Duval |08 April 2022

More emphasis should be put on building a healthy nation through the adoption of healthy lifestyle, instead of expecting more of and relying and depending more on the healthcare system, President Wavel Ramkalwan has said.

The head of state made the remark yesterday during his visits to two local health centres – Beau Vallon and Anse Boileau – as a gesture of appreciation for the devotion and commitment of the staff in their work, and also to meet and greet them on the occasion of the World Health Day which is celebrated on April 7.

He was accompanied by Minister for Health Peggy Vidot, principal secretary for Health Dr Bernard Valentin, Public Health Commissioner Dr Jude Gedeon, chief executive of the Health Care Agency Dr Danny Louange, along with other senior officials of the ministry.

At the Beau Vallon Health Centre, the presidential delegation was welcomed by nurse in charge Wendy Dorby, while at the Anse Boileau centre, it was nurse (regional) manager Lorna Vidot who on behalf of the 84 staff members welcomed the delegation.

President Ramkalawan noted that the hard work of the healthcare workers has not gone unnoticed, especially with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic which has put, and is still putting a lot pressure on the healthcare system of not only Seychelles, but that of the whole world.

He also pledged the full support of the government towards the wellbeing and career development of the healthcare workers, especially through a specialisation programme which is set to begin soon, where local nurses who wish to specialise in a particular area will have the opportunity to do so through scholarship from the Kenyan government.

It is to note that it was during his trip to the 35th summit of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia earlier this year that President Ramkalawan, through discussion with his Kenyan counterpart President Uhuru Kenyatta managed to secure the scholarships which other than health, will also target the agricultural sector.

President Ramkalawan further noted that since taking office in October 2020, health has and will remain one of his top priorities, giving examples of various related significant projects being presently carried out, including the construction of the new National Institute of Health and Social Studies (NIHSS) campus, along with the New La Digue Hospital.

It was in 1948 that the World Health Organisation (WHO) held the first Health Assembly and two years later, it was decided that April 7 will be observed as World Health Day.

This day not only marks the WHO's founding, but also draws global attention towards healthcare.

Each year for this date, a theme is chosen that highlights an area of priority concern for WHO. In the face of the current pandemic, a polluted planet, and an increasing incidence of diseases, the theme for World Health Day 2022 was ‘Our Planet, Our Health’.

The accompanying photographs show President Ramkalawan and his delegation during their visits to the two health centres.

Photos by Thomas Meriton