In a recent press conference held on Wednesday May 26th, 2021. Leader of Government Business Hon. Andrew A Fahie stated that the sister islands of Anegada and Jost Van Dyke are set to have an assigned medical doctor on the islands 24-hours for four days a week.
“This will be extended within a month’s time to the island of Jost Van Dyke. It is time our sister islands do have a doctor on island 24-hours a day,” Premier Andrew Fahie said, adding that this takes effect on Friday, May 28th, 2021. This is in hopes of soon having a doctor on those islands on a 24-7 basis.
This announcement comes as great news to residents of both Anegada and Jost Van Dyke as the lack of a consistent doctor has been an ongoing problem and of significant concern to residents.
Our newsroom spoke to a resident and business woman of Great Harbor Jost Van Dyke who said, “It’s about time, it’s not good at all that we haven’t been able to have our own doctor. Things happen, emergencies happen with visitors and its embarrassing and scary, so this is good news. I think we feel a lot better and safer when it comes to our health.”
Fahie said that even with limited resources the Government continues to stretch in order to meet the needs of residents, particularly during the pandemic.
“For years through successive administrations, our sister islands have been without the regular services of a doctor on island. Your government has taken the decisive step to correct this situation.”