Promoting La Digue as a centre of excellence for primary health care |04 October 2023

The recently inaugurated St Mary’s Hospital on La Digue. The upcoming conference aims to promote La Digue as a centre of excellence for primary health care

On Thursday and Friday this week, La Digue community leaders, the La Digue health team and national health leaders will convene on La Digue to explore the health of the people and the island’s environment and identify key strategies for improving health.

This conference, the first of its kind to be held on La Digue, aims to revitalise primary health care on the island by bringing together the community and the health team to improve the population's health.

Over the past five months, the ministry has been working closely with the staff and community leaders on how to address the health needs of the people and to create a framework for the community and health professionals to work together.

At the inauguration of St Mary's Hospital on August 15, the engagement of the community was evident, illustrated by the presentations of school children and senior citizens.

The conference will build on the foundations already established and identify the partners and resources that can contribute to making La Digue a healthier community and island.

Participation in the conference will include the health team and the leadership of the Ministry of Health, members of the community and representatives from the World Health Organisation.

The state of La Digue's health, finding strategies to enhance primary health care, enhancing the user experience of those receiving healthcare services, and fostering greater collaboration between all partners will be among the main subjects to be covered.

A strategy for involving the community and the health team in improving La Digue's health will be adopted at the meeting.

The chosen theme for the conference, ‘Promoting La Digue as a centre of excellence for primary health care’ reflects Minister Peggy Vidot's call at the inauguration of the hospital for La Digue to become a model of primary health care, where government, private sector and the community all contribute to investment in health.

Primary health care has been, for over four decades, key to WHO's vision for all sectors and the community to engage in the pursuit of better health, and the foundation for health development in Seychelles and countries around the globe.

Press release from the Ministry of Health