As the Bahamas shifts from relief to recovery, the Ministry of Health is excited to announce that on Friday, 24th January, 2020, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the Ministry of Health and the Americares Foundation.

Americares is a health-focused relief and development organization that saves lives and improves health for people affected by poverty or disaster. Established 40 years ago, Americares has provided more than 18 billion dollars’ worth of aid in 164 countries including the United States. The organization focuses closely on the establishment of long-term recovery projects and disaster preparedness programmes to vulnerable communities.

For nearly five (5) months in New Providence and nearly (4) months in Abaco, Americares has provided more than 4,000 medical and more than 2,500 mental health and psychosocial support consultations to persons impacted by Hurricane Dorian. Americares provided these services alongside our hardworking Ministry of Health staff.

The MOU will facilitate critical primary health, mental health psychosocial support services, with a social worker, clinical psychologist, and training to strengthen the capacity of the Bahamian health care system. Americares has also agreed to provide -

 medicine;

 collect data to assist the Ministry of Health to track diseases, referrals, and health service utilization during the recovery; and

 joint efforts on public relations communications.

Americares will continue to provide services in Marsh Harbour, Elbow Cay and Man-O-War Cay and expand operations to include Fox Town, Cooper’s Town, Sandy Point, Guana Cay and Green Turtle Cay.

The Ministry of Health welcomes the Hurricane Dorian Team Leader Ms. Cora Nally and the members of Americares. The Ministry looks forward to a progressive and fruitful partnership.

Executives of The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation made a courtesy call on the Minister of Labour, Senator the Honourable Dion Foulkes on Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at the Ministry of Labour. Minister Foulkes was joined by officials in the Ministry of Labour.

Pictured is Minister Foulkes at center along with from left to right Mr. Ricardo Deveaux, Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour; Mrs. Patrenda Russell-Brice Deputy Director, Department of Labour; Mr. John Pinder, Acting Director of Labour; Mr. Reginald Saunders, Permanent Secretary Acting, Department of Labour; Mrs. Khrystle Rutherford-Ferguson, Chair of The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation; Mr. Peter Goudie, Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation and Ms. Nadine Frazier, Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation. Photo by Ministry of Labour.

More than 150 swimmers in five age groups are expected to compete in the LENO Barracuda Invitational this weekend at the Betty Kelly Kenning National Swim Complex in Nassau.

“We are very grateful to LENO for its continued support of swimming in The Bahamas and, in particular, its support for the Barracuda Swim Club,” said the club’s President Philice Davis-Albury. “Swimmers from the ages of six and up are really excited about this weekend’s event which would not be possible without our steady friend for nearly a decade, LENO Group of Companies.”

This is the eighth year the corporate, real estate and investments advisor has backed the Barracudas, the country’s largest swim team and 16-time national champion.

“We at LENO are proud to partner with the Barracuda Swim Club which works so hard to build sportsmanship, discipline and teamwork through healthy competition,” said LENO President and CEO Sean Longley. “While we are proud to be an important part of a record-setting national championship team, we are even more pleased to play a role in affording young people the opportunity to learn to swim. We witnessed the importance of knowing how to swim when Hurricane Dorian swept through the northern Bahamas in September and we are convinced now more than ever that swimming is no longer simply a leisure activity but must be part of a national curriculum.”

The 8th Annual LENO Barracuda Invitational will serve as a CARIFTA qualifier. Meets begin at 6 pm January 31 and continue at 9 am February 1.

Barracuda’s Swim Club President, Philice Albury accepts a $4,000 donation from Leno’s President and CEO Sean K. Longley. This is the 8th year the 16-time national champion swim team has counted on Leno, the investment and corporate services provider known for its community and civic involvement.

Parliamentarians attended the Annual Parliamentarian Church Service today at St. Agnes Anglican Church. The Sermon was delivered by Archdeacon James Palacious, Vice-President of the Bahamas Christian Council. Pictured in the first pew are Prime Minister the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis (centre), Leader of the Opposition the Hon. Philip Davis, and Speaker of the House of Assembly the Hon. Halson Moultrie and Mrs. Moultrie.

(BIS Photos/Kemuel Stubbs)