‘Healthy home’ project, an excellent public-private partnership |07 July 2015

The ‘Healthy home’ project is an excellent spirit of public-private partnership and collaboration, the Minister for Health Mitcy Larue has said.
Minister Larue said that during the official handing over of the key to the home from Woodworks Unlimited (PTY)  and other sponsors who went into partnership with the Ministry of Health to build and promote an eco-friendly house, under the theme “My health, my responsibility: Begin at home, the health of our nation.

Initiated by the Health of our Nation committee of the Ministry of Health, the ‘Healthy home’ project was one of the highlights of the National Expo 2015. It portrayed how health begins at home by showing how individuals could adopt healthy living ways in their own home.

The house was visited by thousands including President James Michel during the recent National Day Show. The home is located near the National Sports Council (NSC) hall at Roche Caiman.
Also present at the hand over ceremony yesterday were high officials of the ministry and sponsors of the project.

“This same spirit of partnership and collaboration has been much in evidence from so many others present here and I wish to express our most sincere gratitude and thanks to you all. You have all given the best of your services and talents to this project; the care and attention that you gave are clearly visible in the quality of the house, the garden, the furniture and the facilities that were on display during the expo,” said Minister Larue.

She commended the staff of the committee of her ministry saying it was very satisfying to see them working with dedication and creating partnerships with health.
“The healthy home remains a valuable resource for us all to use to improve the health of the Seychellois people,” she said, adding that her ministry will work closely with NSC to make the best use of that model house and garden.

Denis Payette of Woodworks Unlimited said he was honoured to be part of such a honourable event after he was approached by Patricia Rene, the chairperson of the Health of our Nation committee for assistance in that project. In collaboration with all partners, it took them only three weeks to build the beautiful modern house.

Mr Payette explained that the house is built of galvanised steel structure and finished off with SHERA fibre-cement products. His company brought in other partners who supplied and installed additional fixtures and equipment such as roofing sheets, electrical works, photovoltaic cells, plumbing, furniture and a beautiful organic garden.

“This is good example of teamwork and how we Seychellois entrepreneurs can get together to contribute towards a great cause, to serve the Seychellois people through the Ministry of Health,” he said.

Mrs Rene explained the process since it was conceived until the delivery of the final product yesterday.
“I am positive we all feel privileged to have been part of the project. We were a great team or should I say great partners,” she said.