AGP Executive Report

Mental Health Care Boost: Rotary Club South handed over a refurbished Occupational Therapy Unit at the Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre in Glen, with supplies for occupational and recreational stimulation—part of a wider push to improve dignity and rehabilitation. Stigma-Focused Reform: Health Minister Daniel Cummings said the Ministry is rolling out a programme to change public attitudes, stressing mental illness is treatable and families should not be abandoned. HIV Alert Ahead of VincyMas: The Ministry of Health warned of rising HIV infections, especially among ages 25–29 and men over 60, urging testing and safe sex since HIV can’t be identified by appearance. Training for Smarter Diagnostics: Radiographer Celeste Cumberbatch-Garrett completed AI-based medical image analysis training in Taiwan, aimed at earlier disease detection and better diagnostic precision. Road Safety Eye Protection: OSV Group donated sunglasses to the Police Traffic Department, highlighting eye safety for officers working long hours in the sun. Health System Leadership: Psychologist Alisa Alvis called for more investment and collaboration so mental health services aren’t under-resourced or stigmatized. Funding & Resilience: Government moved to authorize a US$20M OPEC Fund disaster risk management loan, framed as strengthening resilience and fiscal transparency.

HIV Alert Ahead of VincyMas: St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Ministry of Health says new HIV infections are rising, with the highest numbers among ages 25–29 and men over 60, and urges testing and condom use—reminding people you can’t tell by appearance and that safer sex is key during the carnival season. Disaster Risk Funding: Government moved to authorize a US$20M Disaster Risk Management loan from the OPEC Fund (OFID), framed as budget support to strengthen resilience, adaptation, and fiscal transparency. Agriculture & Health Tech Boost: FAO-backed funding of EC$1.3M will support data-driven farming and coastal risk work, including agriculture drones and geospatial tools to spot crop threats faster. OECS Leadership: OECS reappointed Dr. Didacus Jules for a fourth term as Director General, citing progress on food sovereignty, digital transformation, and healthier communities. Mental Health & Courts: Health leadership drew praise for mental-health related training plans, while legal voices flagged court document delays and ongoing concerns around access to psychiatric reports. Violence & Public Safety: Police charged a 21-year-old man over a June 23 murder in Lowmans Leeward, and separately are investigating a fatal shooting in Canouan. Youth Prevention: A new “steps project” aims to help students resist peer pressure and grooming, with police saying prevention must start before harm occurs.

HIV Alert Ahead of VincyMas: St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Ministry of Health says new HIV infections are rising, with the highest numbers among ages 25–29 and men 60+, and urges residents and visitors to get tested and use condoms—reminding people you can’t tell by appearance and that testing is the only way to know. Public Health Leadership: Health Minister Daniel Cummings publicly praised Chief Medical Officer Dr. Simone Keizer-Beache, highlighting her work on training for law enforcement and legal teams on mental health cases and her coordination with CARPHA. Health Workforce Training: Radiographer Celeste Cumberbatch-Garrett completed AI-based medical image analysis training in Taiwan, aimed at improving early detection and diagnostic accuracy at Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. Violence and Safety: Police charged a Lowmans Hill man with murder in the June 23 shooting death of St. Lucian Troy Cassely, and investigations continue after a separate fatal shooting in Canouan where a post-mortem is planned. Mental Health and Justice: Senator Carlos James says he will sue the government over alleged police abuse involving a mentally ill man, while lawyer Grant Connell again flags court delays affecting access to justice.

HIV Alert for VincyMas: St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ministry of Health is urging residents and visitors to get tested and practise safe sex as new HIV infections rise, with highest numbers reported among ages 25–29 and men over 60; officials say you can’t tell by appearance and are pushing condom use and vigilance during the carnival season. Mental Health Care Push: The Ministry of Health publicly praised Chief Medical Officer Dr. Simone Keizer-Beache for leadership and for helping drive training links for law enforcement and legal teams on handling people with mental health illnesses. Mental Health Reform Under Strain: A separate report highlights ongoing pressure in mental health services, including severe staff shortages and high readmission rates, as the country overhauls care. AI Skills for Radiographers: A public radiographer at Milton Cato Memorial Hospital completed AI-based medical image analysis training in Taiwan, aimed at improving early detection and diagnostic accuracy. Youth Safety Initiative: Police launched the “steps project” to help students resist peer pressure and grooming tactics, focusing on prevention in schools. Regional Health Leadership: OECS reappointed Dr. Didacus Jules to a fourth term as Director General, citing progress on healthier communities and regional cooperation. STI Testing Uptick: Planned Parenthood reports more people coming forward for STI testing ahead of Carnival, encouraging regular check-ups. Court Backlog Concern: Defence attorney Grant Connell again raised alarms about delays in serving court documents, which can stall legal processes for vulnerable people.

HIV Alert for VincyMas: St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Ministry of Health says new HIV infections are rising, with the highest numbers among people aged 25–29 and men over 60, and urges residents and visitors to use condoms and get tested because you can’t tell by appearance. STI Testing Push: Planned Parenthood Association reports more people are coming in for STI testing ahead of Carnival, encouraging regular check-ups as part of sexual health. Mental Health Reform Spotlight: The Ministry of Health publicly praised Chief Medical Officer Dr. Simone Keizer-Beache for leadership and for helping shape training to improve how law enforcement and legal teams handle people with mental illness. AI Skills for Care: A public radiographer at Milton Cato Memorial Hospital completed AI-based medical image analysis training in Taiwan, aiming to strengthen early detection and diagnostic accuracy. Regional Health Leadership: OECS reappointed Dr. Didacus Jules to a fourth term as Director General, citing progress on “healthier communities” and regional cooperation. Health System Strain & Safety: A youth-focused “steps project” targets peer pressure and grooming risks, while police investigate a fatal shooting in Canouan that involved a post-mortem and ongoing inquiries.

HIV Alert Ahead of VincyMas: St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Ministry of Health says new HIV infections are rising, with the highest numbers among people aged 25–29 and men over 60. Chief Health Promotion Officer Shanika John-Trent urged residents and visitors to get tested and practice safe sex, stressing you can’t tell if someone has HIV by appearance and that condoms are key—especially with Carnival travel, alcohol use, and more casual sex. Mental Health Support: The Government has appointed a resident consultant psychiatrist, Dr. Eloy Asanza Castillo, based at the Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre as part of renewed mental health reform. Mental Health & Justice Pressure: Defence attorney Grant Connell is again calling out court document delays and says essential papers can sit unserved for months, adding to stress for vulnerable cases. Police Investigation: Police are investigating the fatal shooting of Daniel Vettrino (37) in Canouan, with a post-mortem planned to determine the cause of death. AI Training for Care: Radiographer Celeste Cumberbatch-Garrett completed AI-based medical image analysis training in Taiwan, aimed at improving early detection and diagnostic accuracy. STI Testing Uptick: Planned Parenthood reports more people coming forward for STI testing during the Carnival period.

HIV Alert Ahead of VincyMas: St. Vincent and the Grenadines health authorities say new HIV infections are rising, with the highest numbers among people aged 25–29 and men over 60. Chief Health Promotion Officer Shanika John stressed that you can’t tell by appearance—testing is the only way to know—and urged residents and visitors to use condoms and get tested, especially as Carnival brings more travel, alcohol use, and casual sex. Mental Health Support Boost: The Ministry of Health announced a new consultant psychiatrist, Dr. Eloy Asanza Castillo, based at the Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre, as part of renewed mental health reform. AI Training for Care: Public radiographer Celeste Cumberbatch-Garrett completed AI-based medical image analysis training in Taiwan (June 4–23), aiming to strengthen early detection and diagnostic accuracy at Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. STI Testing Uptick for Carnival: Planned Parenthood Association of St. Vincent and the Grenadines reports more people coming forward for STI testing, and encourages regular check-ups during the Carnival season. Youth Safety Initiative: Police launched the “steps project” to help students resist peer pressure and grooming tactics, focusing on prevention before harm occurs.

HIV Alert Ahead of Carnival: St. Vincent and the Grenadines health officials say new HIV infections are rising, with the highest numbers among ages 25–29 and men over 60. Chief Health Promotion Officer Shanika John stressed that you can’t tell by appearance—testing is the only way—and urged condom use and safer sex as VincyMas approaches, when travel, alcohol use, and casual relationships can increase risk. Mental Health Care Boost: The Ministry of Health says a consultant psychiatrist, Dr. Eloy Asanza Castillo, has been appointed to the Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre as part of mental health reform. AI Skills for Imaging: Radiographer Celeste Cumberbatch-Garrett completed AI-based medical image analysis training in Taiwan, aiming to strengthen early detection and diagnostic accuracy at Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. STI Testing Uptick: Planned Parenthood reports more people coming forward for STI testing ahead of Carnival, encouraging regular check-ups and testing. Youth Safety Push: Police launched the “steps project” to help students resist peer pressure and grooming, focusing on prevention before harm occurs.

HIV Watch: St. Vincent and the Grenadines is seeing a worrying HIV uptick, with positive cases clustering among young adults (25–29) and older men (60+), while women still test in higher numbers—health officials warn you can’t tell by looking and urge condom use, especially around carnival. Gastro Alert: The Ministry of Health reports a surge in gastrointestinal illness ahead of carnival, blaming poorer hand hygiene for rising vomiting and diarrhea cases in both under-fives and older groups. Mental Health Staffing & Reform: A consultant psychiatrist, Dr. Eloy Castillo, has been appointed to the Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre, as the government pushes a shift toward community-based care; officials also flag severe nursing shortages and extreme patient-to-nurse ratios at the facility. Youth Safety: Police launched the “steps project” to help students resist peer pressure and grooming by adult predators, aiming to prevent harm before it happens. Cancer Tragedy: A St. Vincent Girls’ High School student died of stage 4 cancer on her graduation day, prompting tributes and condolences. Violence & Health Impact: Police are investigating a fatal shooting in Canouan involving a 37-year-old man found with multiple gunshot wounds; a post-mortem is planned.

HIV Watch: St. Vincent and the Grenadines is seeing a spike in HIV cases, with new positives clustering among young adults (25–29) and older men (60+), while women still test in higher numbers—health officials are urging safer sex and reminding people you can’t tell by looking. Mental Health Reform: The Ministry has appointed Cuban consultant psychiatrist Dr. Eloy Asanza Castillo to the Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre, ending about a decade-long specialist gap, as the country shifts toward destigmatization, community-based care, and reducing long-term institutionalization. Mental Health Staffing Strain: Reports from the Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre highlight severe nurse shortages and extreme patient-to-nurse ratios, adding pressure to an already stretched system. GI Illness Warning: Ahead of Carnival, officials report a surge in gastrointestinal cases—especially vomiting and diarrhea—blaming lapses in hand hygiene and urging frequent handwashing for everyone, including children. STI Testing Uptick: Planned Parenthood says more people are coming forward for STI testing, and it’s encouraging regular check-ups during the Carnival season. Cancer Loss: A St. Vincent Girls’ High School student, Morica DaSilva, died of stage 4 cancer on her graduation day. Violence and Care: Police are investigating a fatal shooting in Canouan (June 24) and a separate Great House, Lowmans Leeward shooting (June 23) that left one dead and two injured, with victims treated at Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. Legal Action: Lawyer Carlos James says he will sue the government over alleged police abuse involving mentally ill patients, including claims of brutality while in custody and at hospital grounds.

HIV Alert: St. Vincent and the Grenadines health authorities report a rise in HIV cases, with new positives clustering among young adults (25–29) and older men (60+), while women still test in higher numbers; officials warn you can’t tell by appearance and urge condom use, especially with carnival approaching. Mental Health Reform: The Ministry has appointed consultant psychiatrist Dr. Eloy Castillo to the Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre after a decade-long recruitment gap, as the country shifts toward community-based care; at the same time, staff shortages and extreme patient-to-nurse ratios at the MHRC are highlighted as urgent pressure points. GI Illness Warning: Health officials are seeing a surge in gastrointestinal cases—linked to poorer hand hygiene—urging better washing habits before and during carnival to curb vomiting and diarrhea. Cancer Loss: A St. Vincent Girls’ High School student, Morica DaSilva, died of stage 4 cancer on her graduation day. Police Violence Legal Action: Lawyer Carlos James says he will sue the government over alleged abuse by police involving Kenton Harris, a mentally ill man, and also points to a separate hospital shooting case. Violent Incident Update: Police continue investigations after a fatal shooting in Canouan on June 24, with a post-mortem planned.

Mental Health Reform in SVG: St. Vincent and the Grenadines has appointed Cuban psychiatrist Dr. Eloy Asanza Castillo to the Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre, ending a decade-long specialist shortage and supporting a shift toward destigmatization, decentralised community care, and deinstitutionalisation. Staffing Strain at MHRC: Officials also warned that severe nurse shortages and extreme patient-to-nurse ratios are worsening burnout and care gaps at the centre. Gastroenteritis Warning: The Ministry of Health is urging stronger hand hygiene after a surge in gastrointestinal cases ahead of Carnival, with officials citing poor sanitation practices linked to vomiting and diarrhoea. STI Testing Uptick: Planned Parenthood reports more people coming in for STI testing during the lead-up to Carnival, encouraging regular check-ups. Community Health & Food Security Planning: The Zero Hunger Trust Fund validated its Strategic Plan 2026–2030, aiming for a more integrated food and nutrition security approach. Tragedy at Graduation: A St. Vincent Girls’ High School student, Morica DaSilva, died of stage 4 cancer on her graduation day. Violence and Health System Pressure: Police continue investigations after a fatal shooting in Lowmans Leeward (alias “Luche”), while separate legal action alleges brutal treatment of a mentally ill man in police custody.

Mental Health Reform in SVG: The Ministry of Health has appointed Cuban consultant psychiatrist Dr. Eloy Asanza Castillo to the Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre, ending a decade-long specialist vacancy and supporting a shift toward destigmatization, decentralization, and deinstitutionalization. Care Under Pressure: Health officials also warned that severe staffing shortages and extreme patient-to-nurse ratios at the MHRC are straining services, with only a handful of trained psychiatric nurses. Gastroenteritis Warning: Ahead of Carnival, the Health Ministry says gastrointestinal cases are spiking—240 cases in children under five and 895 in those five and older—linked to poor hand hygiene, urging better sanitation before crowds. Blood Donation Push: SVG is rolling out a new blood donor engagement approach using “Blood Text” plus a redesigned national blood bank website to boost repeat voluntary donations. Violence and Legal Action: Police are investigating a fatal Canouan shooting and a separate Great House, Lowmans Leeward shooting that left one dead and two injured; meanwhile, attorney Carlos James has launched legal action against the State over alleged brutal police treatment of a mentally ill man in custody. Regional Health Leadership: OECS leaders reappointed Dr. Didacus Jules for a fourth term, while OECS-Morocco education success continues with Saint Lucia’s Camille Andrew earning an MD with highest honors.

STI care ahead of Carnival: Planned Parenthood SVG says STI testing demand is rising and urges people to book regular check-ups during the festivities. Mental health staffing boost: Government has appointed Cuban consultant psychiatrist Dr. Eloy Asanza Castillo to the Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre, ending about a decade-long recruitment gap. Mental health reform under pressure: Officials also report severe MHRC nursing shortages and high patient-to-nurse loads, while SVG moves toward destigmatization, community-based care, and reducing long-term residents. Gastro warning for the season: Health Ministry reports a surge in gastrointestinal illness—especially vomiting and diarrhea—blaming poor hand hygiene and urging stricter sanitation before and during Carnival crowds. Blood donation push: SVG launches a new blood donor engagement approach using “Blood Text” and a redesigned national blood bank website to bring back more repeat donors, especially younger people. Violence and health impacts: Police are investigating a fatal shooting in Canouan and a separate Great House, Lowmans Leeward shooting that left one dead and two injured, with victims treated at Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. Legal action after alleged abuse: Attorney Carlos James says he has started proceedings against the State over alleged brutal police attacks on a mentally ill man in custody. Regional health leadership: OECS reappointed Dr. Didacus Jules for a fourth term as Director General, with leaders citing work on “healthier communities” and integration. Climate-smart farming training: ADOPT Caribbean soil health training supported 49 farmers and technical officers in SVG to strengthen climate-resilient agriculture.

Mental Health Overhaul: SVG is shifting from institutional care to community-based mental health services, with a three-pillar plan focused on destigmatization, decentralization, and deinstitutionalization—while the Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre still faces severe staffing strain. Psychiatry Gap Closed: After about a decade without a resident psychiatrist, the Ministry of Health appointed Cuban psychiatrist Dr. Eloy Castillo to the MHRC, ending a long recruitment struggle. Burnout at MHRC: Health officials say nursing shortages and extreme patient-to-nurse ratios are driving burnout, with only a handful of psychiatric-trained nurses nationwide. Gastro Warning Ahead of Carnival: A surge in vomiting-and-diarrhea cases has health officials urging better hand hygiene, especially as Carnival crowds approach. Blood Donation Push: SVG is rolling out a new donor engagement approach using “Blood Text” and a redesigned blood bank website to boost regular voluntary donations. Safety & Violence Concerns: Police are investigating a fatal Lowmans Leeward shooting and a separate case involving a mentally ill man allegedly abused by police, with legal action launched against the government. Regional Health Leadership: OECS reappointed Dr. Didacus Jules for a fourth term, highlighting continued work on healthier communities and regional integration.

Mental Health Care: St. Vincent and the Grenadines has finally filled a long-standing specialist gap, appointing Cuban psychiatrist Dr. Eloy Asanza Castillo to the Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre after about a decade without a resident psychiatrist. Health System Accountability: The Serious Offences Court has summoned senior health officials over delays in a court-ordered psychiatric report, highlighting ongoing pressure on mental health services. Blood Donation Push: The Ministry of Health launched a new regional blood donor engagement approach, with SVG using “Blood Text” and a new 2-in-1 blood bank website to boost voluntary donations—especially among younger donors. Violence and Safety: A man was shot multiple times on hospital grounds while seeking medical help, and separate reports describe a brutal police case involving a mentally ill man—both raising serious concerns about safety and treatment of vulnerable people. Community Health & Learning: SVGCC graduates were urged to lead with resilience and care, while a teacher-focused story reflects on how education should build active, informed participation. Regional Health Links: OECS leaders meeting in Antigua put health cooperation on the agenda, alongside trade, connectivity, and resilience.