Every country has a moment when it must choose whether to keep patching an old system… or build a new one. In the Turks and Caicos Islands, that moment has arrived for healthcare. In my previous Op‑Ed, I spoke about the long‑standing pressures on our health system — pressures we have lived with for more than a decade. But identifying a problem is only half the work. The real question is: What do we build next? Because the truth is this: We cannot keep sending our people overs

The Pharmacy Unit within the Ministry of Health and Human Services (MoHHS) in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) began a transformative journey in 2019 with the establishment of the national pharmacovigilance programme. The programme known as the Turks and Caicos Islands Pharmacovigilance Programme (TPP) was developed with a view to strengthen the country’s medicines regulatory framework and by virtue improve the effective monitoring of drug/patient safety. Importantly, t

Every country reaches a moment when it must stop, take a breath, and look honestly at the systems that carry its people. Healthcare is one of those systems. It is not a luxury, not a political football, not a line item on a budget. It is the quiet foundation that allows a society to work, to grow, and to hope. In the Turks and Caicos Islands, we are now standing at that moment. And the truth is simple: our health system has been under strain for a very long time. This is not

News Release The Turks and Caicos Islands Government notes the press release issued by InterHealth Canada earlier today, which was published without the Government’s prior consent or comment. InterHealth Canada has purported to terminate its contract with the Turks and Caicos Islands Government. The Government is urgently reviewing the position. The Government wishes to reassure all hospital staff, patients, residents, and visitors that there is no interruption to healthcare

The Environmental Health Department, under the Ministry of Health and Human Services, successfully hosted a five-day Port Health Training Workshop from July 6-10, 2026, aimed at strengthening public health preparedness and response at ports of entry throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands. Crivanne Adams Deputy Chief Environmental Officer The training was facilitated by Mr. Lionel Michael of JKALM Environmental Health, a senior Environmental Health professional with over 40

Just hours after celebrating the birth of a new granddaughter, Jock Williams and his wife, Aritha, found themselves praying for his survival while confronting a life-or-death emergency. Jock Williams and his wife, Aritha, are pictured with Dr. Vinayaga Pandian, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at Health City Cayman Islands, following the successful procedure that helped save Williams’ life after he suffered a heart attack in Turks and Caicos. The 40-year-old Turks and

Three senior leaders from the Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital successfully completed an intensive Accreditation Canada International Internal Assessor Training Programme held in Barbados from June 1–3, 2026, further strengthening the organization's commitment to quality, patient safety, and continuous improvement. Representing InterHealth Canada TCI Limited and the Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital were: Dr. Denise Braithwaite-Tennant, Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Dawn Pe

The Turks and Caicos Islands has achieved a landmark public health victory, becoming the first country or territory in the Americas to receive validation for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of Hepatitis B, while also securing certification for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Dr. Eldonna Boisson, PAHO/WHO Representative for the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands presents the EMTCT Certificate to Minister of Health Hon. Kyle Knowl

The Turks and Caicos Islands Government said it is continuing to monitor developments surrounding hantavirus cases reported internationally, with the Ministry of Health and Human Services emphasizing preparedness, public education, and vigilance rather than panic. Health and Human Services Minister Hon. Kyle Knowles During an interview with NewslineTCI this week, the Minister of Health and Human Services said the Government has already begun implementing precautionary measu

Minister of Health and Human Services Hon. Kyle Knowles has affirmed the Government’s commitment to empowering healthcare workers across the Turks and Caicos Islands, declaring that strengthening the profession is “not optional but essential.” Minister of Health and Human Services Hon. Kyle Knowles Speaking at the opening of the 5th Annual Nurses and Nurse Aides Conference held Tuesday at Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort and Spa in Providenciales, Minister Knowles praised he

And why consistency matters more than perfection Inflammation is influenced by what you eat regularly, not what you eat occasionally. While no single food can “cure” inflammation, certain foods support the body’s ability to regulate it. Here are five that consistently show up in anti-inflammatory nutrition patterns. Fatty fish Salmon, sardines, and mackerel provide omega-3 fats that help reduce inflammatory signalling and support cardiovascular health. Cooked leafy gree

Why your body feels tired before the day even starts Let’s walk through a very common day. You wake up already feeling behind. Your phone is the first thing you reach for. Emails. Messages. Notifications. Your nervous system switches on immediately. Breakfast gets skipped or rushed. Coffee becomes your first source of energy. Blood sugar rises briefly, then drops. Cortisol steps in to keep you functioning. By mid-morning, your focus feels scattered. You might feel anxious o

Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital (TCIH), operated by InterHealth Canada, proudly marks 16 years of service to the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands, celebrating a legacy of delivering safe, high-quality, and evidence-based care since opening its doors 10th April 2010. Dr. Denise Brathwaite-Tennant, CEO Background: Public-Private Partnership Model Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital is delivered through a public-private partnership (PPP) between the Government of the Tur

Understanding the slow build-up of metabolic disease Most chronic health conditions do not appear suddenly. Diabetes, hormonal disorders, autoimmune issues, and chronic inflammation usually develop quietly over time. Long before a diagnosis, the body gives subtle signals that something is off. These early signs are often brushed aside as stress, aging, or “normal life.” Low energy becomes routine. Digestion feels unpredictable. Sleep quality declines. Cravings intensify. We

When emotional load becomes inflammation, fatigue, and hormone imbalance Stress does not stay in the mind. It always shows up in the body. When stress is short-term, the body adapts and recovers. When stress becomes chronic, without enough recovery, it begins to change how systems function. Many people live in a constant low-grade stress state. They are not in crisis, but they are never fully at ease. Over time, this affects digestion, hormones, immunity, and energy levels. T

It’s not just sugar. It’s stress, hormones, and daily patterns Type 2 diabetes is often framed as a simple result of eating too much sugar. In reality, it develops through a combination of metabolic, hormonal, and lifestyle factors that build up over years. Many people with similar diets and activity levels have very different outcomes. That’s because diabetes risk is not only about food choices. It’s about how the body handles stress, insulin, and inflammation over time. I

Why blood sugar issues start long before diabetes Insulin resistance does not appear overnight. It develops quietly, often years before a diagnosis of prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. Many people experience symptoms daily without realising blood sugar regulation is at the root. Insulin is the hormone responsible for moving glucose from the bloodstream into the cells to be used for energy. When cells stop responding efficiently to insulin, the pancreas produces more. Over t

The Ministry of Health and Human Services is pleased to announce the reinstatement of full-time physiotherapy services on the island of South Caicos. Monthly physiotherapy services on South Caicos resumed two years ago through the visitation of the Primary Health Care Departments Senior Physiotherapist. However, the physical therapy needs for the people of South Caicos required more frequent service, therefore it was necessary to reinstate a full-time service. Commenting

This is how nutrition affects your kid’s mood, focus, and immunity Children’s bodies are highly sensitive to blood sugar fluctuations. What they eat directly affects their energy, behaviour, mood, sleep, and immune function. Many common childhood challenges are linked to unstable blood sugar rather than behavioural issues alone. Signs of Blood Sugar Imbalance in Children Children may not describe how they feel clearly. Instead, blood sugar imbalance often shows up as: Moo

Why cortisol, insulin, and estrogen need daily support Hormones influence nearly every function in the body. Energy levels, metabolism, mood, sleep, digestion, and weight regulation are all hormonally driven. When hormones fall out of balance, the effects are often subtle at first and then gradually disruptive. Many people assume hormonal imbalance only happens during menopause or after pregnancy. In reality, daily lifestyle habits strongly influence hormones at every age