Last Updated on November 29, 2023, 3:12 AM AST by Anthony Morris
The government of St Kitts and Nevis has partnered with the Ross University School of Veterinary. Through its Ministry of Health and Agriculture, Medicine (RUSVM), the partnership will assist them transform St Kitts and Nevis as a sustainable island nation. The signing ceremony took place on Tuesday, 28 November 2023, at Port Zante, Basseterre.
The partnership aims to create healthier living spaces in line with the World Health Organization’s One Health initiative. The association was formalized with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the One Health initiative.
Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew signed the memorandum on behalf of the Department of Health, and Samal Duggins represented the Department of Agriculture and Ross University was represented by Dr Sean Callanan.
This initiative promotes an integrated approach to human, animal and environmental welfare and encourages multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration to find sustainable solutions.
PM Terrance Drew, prime minister of St Kitts and Nevis, fully agreed with the One Health initiative and expressed his support as the Minister of Health and his professional perspective as a physician.
Prime Minister Dr Drew highlighted that he was filled with immense pride and joy as he witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, which is another milestone in the ongoing partnership between the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and the Government of St Kitts and Nevis.
Today, we especially celebrate the partnership with our ministries of agriculture and Health. In Global Health, the concept of One Health is not just a theoretical framework; it is a guiding principle that recognizes the complex web that connects human Health, animal welfare and our common environment. As a physician and Minister of Health, I appreciate the profound importance of this holistic approach,” added Prime Minister Dr. Drew.
RUSVM has developed and refined its One Health agenda through research. , One Health approach emphasizes improving both human and animal health and is a cornerstone of veterinary education and research.
Initiatives Dr Callanan said the signing of the One Health MoU was a win for all parties, especially in terms of capacity building. “It’s important to build capacity everywhere. Every country is unique. The set of countries together form an uncommon scenario. The Caribbean is not Europe, the United States or Canada. It is a very special environment and so we must understand this environment and work together to make it bigger, better and better. That is the framework and background of this MoU.
Samal Duggins praised Ross University for its continued collaboration with the St Kitts and Nevis Government and especially the Ministry of Agriculture. “The partnership that Ross University did even with my ministry, the Ministry of Agriculture, where you were really behind several projects that we initiated, like the small ruminant breeding project, the cattle crossbreeding project”, Samal Duggins added,
One Health requires collaboration between human, animal and environmental health partners.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
