Wellness Clinic opens at Seychelles Hospital

Wellness Clinic opens at Seychelles Hospital

18-April-2016
Any person struggling with problems related to substance abuse, drug addiction, mental issues and want help, advice or someone to talk to now have a place to come to.

A Wellness Clinic, which is a day clinic based in the former SPDF clinic in the green roof wing of the Seychelles Hospital just opposite La Ciotat building, officially opened its doors on Friday morning.

Health Minister Mitcy Larue, in the presence of Dr Daniella Malulu, Consultant in-Charge of Mental Health Services and other health officials, cut the ribbon to open the clinic.

Josette Edmond, senior nursing officer responsible for the clinic which has been operating there for some time, said they receive on average 60 clients a day which requires a lot of energy and commitment.

“Our aim is to help to the best of our ability all those who visit the clinic so that they can become functional and contributing citizens claiming back their place in society,” Mrs Edmond said, expressing sincere gratitude to everyone who has worked tirelessly to ensure the clinic becomes a reality.

She said the clinic is another step closer to all those who find themselves stuck in a difficult situation which is impairing their ability to live a normal life and achieve their lives’ goals.

Contrary to the Wellness Centre at Les Cannelles where clients are admitted to follow a detox and recovery programme, at the Wellness Clinic which opens daily from 8am to 4pm any person struggling with drug-related problems and addiction can drop in to seek advice, have someone to talk to, be referred to concerned agencies, services to receive the necessary help.

At present there are two nurses working at the clinic. Appointments with doctors and psychologists can also be arranged for clients.

But Mrs Edmond said the aim is to continue upgrading the service to higher standards and have more health professionals join the existing team.


http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=249129

Nurses, midwifes urged to be innovative and solution-oriented professionals

12-May-2016
Ms BistoquetThe President of the Nurses Association of Seychelles (Nars) Rosie Bistoquet has urged all nurses and midwives in Seychelles to be committed, innovative and solution oriented professionals.
This comes in Ms Bistoquet’s message on the occasion of the International Midwife Day celebrated on May 5 under the theme ‘Women and newborn: The heart of midwifery’ and
The International Nurses’ Day being celebrated today under the theme ‘Nurses: A force for change: Improving health systems’ resilience’.
Ms Bistoquet’s message reads:
“First of all, I would like to congratulate the International Nurses/Midwives Council for dedicating this very important theme this year to commemorate the birth of Florence Nightingale, the pioneer of nursing.
“It is through her sheer determination towards this vocation that we have witnessed the significant milestones in nursing worldwide, including in Seychelles.
“Most people have an ideology that nursing is purely about bedside care, but in actual fact nursing encompasses autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families, groups and communities, sick or well and in all settings. Nursing and midwifery include the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and the care of ill, disabled and dying people. Other key nursing roles also include advocacy, promotion of a safe environment, research, participation in shaping health policy and in patient and health systems management, and education.
“Secondly, since the establishment of health care services in Seychelles, nurses had and continue to play a central role in achieving universal health coverage. The nurse workforce has a long history of responding to the changing needs of society. We have developed our practice to tackle public health challenges and to ensure the provision of high quality care. Throughout the 20th century and into the 21st century, significant gains have been made in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in particular goals 4, 5 and 6, in reference to the outcome of the Seychelles’ MDG Report 2015. These have been through various national indicators such as increase in life expectancy, eliminating vaccine preventable disease, reducing many of the risk factors associated with child and maternal mortality. We nurses have made significant contributions to improving child survival but we acknowledge that more can be done. On top of known health problems, we face emerging global threats such as drug resistance, new pandemics, emerging infections, natural disasters, global climate change, migration, ageing population, divergence in new technology and most importantly the health, socio-economic factors associated with key population such as alcohol and drug abuse, among others.
“Thirdly, the Nursing/Midwifery workforce in Seychelles are increasingly well educated, to enable us to connect with citizens, communities, policy makers and each other. However, the need to adapt and change more quickly is evident and the challenges set out for the next 15 years will require a new generation of innovation and leadership. As nurses and midwives gain higher profile in the development of local, national and international responses, we need to have confident, well-informed leaders who understand our roles in developing a workforce to meet new challenges. Nurses and midwives being at the core of resilience can make significant contribution to developing and maintaining resilience in health systems. We shall be able to contribute to service development; supervise and develop other members of the team; work with and advocate for patients, their carers and communities; and collect data and inform the development of evidence.
“Fourthly, to support the nurses and midwives into this agenda, the Nurses Association of Seychelles will endlessly ensure a strong nursing voice in all health and social system policy development and planning dialogues. We believe that all nurses and midwives should contribute to public policy development and planning related to care delivery systems, health care financing, ethics in health care and determinants of health to shape the health system. As a group, we have an enormous potential to build and expand our political capital. However, the key to achieving this potential is found in the ability of the individual nurse and midwife to join the association, for the purpose of representation, allowing your voices to be better heard. Together we can employ a number of strategies to contribute to effective policy development, including monitoring the utilisation of nurses, midwives in the workforce; incorporating new models and management strategies; continually marketing a positive image of nursing to key management and policy stakeholders nationally and internationally; disseminating relevant knowledge and research; and, continually developing and maintaining appropriate networks to enable collaborative working relationships with governmental and non-governmental organisations.
“I will not complete this message without addressing the young nurses and midwives of Seychelles; the association recognises your great contribution to these two vocations even though your individual and family needs may not be the same as the experienced nurses and midwives. We are aware of the social factors impacting on your profession but remain focus, committed and promote your professional development to serve the patients, clients you are serving.
“Finally to conclude, providing quality health care services to all people living in Seychelles is the ethical and professional responsibility of each and every nurse and midwife, whether employed as civil servants or in the private sectors. We must be committed, innovative and solution oriented professionals as we continue to provide care with resilience and versatility even with little or no resources or organisational support. However, improving health systems’ resilience requires inter-sectoral efforts by all actors at all levels. Nurses, midwives who deliver the majority of health care services, in collaboration with colleagues in both health and non-health sectors have an important role in this process.
“I wish all, a happy nurses and midwives day especially the retired experienced nurses and midwives who have devoted their lifetime to a noble vocation. Extend your caring hands to support the younger nursing and midwifery generations. To you, nurses and midwives into the international arena, your support is vital in the professional development of nursing and midwifery in Seychelles.”

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=249390

Exhibition showcases nurses in action

16-May-2016
Shoppers in town on Saturday morning were able to see nurses in action through an exhibition of pictures outside Camion Hall facing the taxi stand.
This display was among the last activities organised by the Nurses Association of the Republic of Seychelles (Nars) to mark Nurses’ Day.
A member of Nars, Julita Wiliams, was not disappointed although the turn-out was low.
“Through the small number of people who have shown up we’ve been able to learn about how they feel about the nurses and their services. I’m glad because they didn’t just come and look at the pictures but they voiced out their concerns. And I suppose because our location is not in the busiest part of town then not many passers-by could see us,” she said.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=249435

Anse Royale Hospital to start admitting patients before year-end

19-August-2016



The Anse Royale Hospital will start receiving patients for admission before the end of the year.
The aim, according to the Health Care Agency (HCA), is for the hospital in the southern region of Mahé to offer services similar to that of the Seychelles Hospital at Mont Fleuri.
Dr Danny Louange, deputy chief executive of the HCA, said in an interview recently that admission to the Anse Royale Hospital will be conducted in phases starting with children followed by female and male.
Thelma Reginald, nurse manager of the Anse Royale regional hospital, said all admission will be on the first floor and this will not interfere with the normal services and daily operations of the hospital.
“The hospital has been designed to admit both children and adults as well as to offer delivery and maternity care among others like casualty,” Dr Louange explained.
He added that the admission services are being planned to be introduced in phases starting with children before the end of the year followed by adults.
“We want to bring services in that region to a higher level in terms of specialist services. Decentralisation of services is becoming a necessity at a time when the Seychelles Hospital is facing an increase in admissions thus a shortage of vacant beds at times.
“The decision will also benefit people in the community as these services are brought closer to them,” Dr Louange pointed out.
He explained that before these get underway installations of gas piping delivery fittings, among other logistics have to be finalised and the roof, which has started to show signs of rust, has to be replaced.
With regard to the manpower needs, Ms Reginald said additional staff will be required in due course.
“At present some 20 nurses are working to provide the existing services and to start the new services at least three more will be required initially,” Ms Reginald said.
Dr Louange said recruitment process for additional doctors and specialists has also started.
He added that an x-ray machine will also be installed at the Anse Royale Hospital in due course but noted that serious cases which will require ICU care, surgical interventions will be tended to at the Seychelles Hospital.
Meanwhile Dr Louange has said a separate new building to accommodate the dental clinic has also been built behind the hospital.
“The facility has cost the health ministry between R600,000 and R800,000 and the dental service is expected to move there soon,” Dr Louange said.
Ms Reginald noted that the new recently built health facility which opened in 2013 is currently offering services to some 14,000 inhabitants from Anse Royale itself, part of Au Cap, Baie Lazare and Takamaka districts.
The services include doctors’ consultations, emergency on a 24hour basis, six different specialist clinics, reproductive health, maternal and child health, antenatal, physiotherapy, environmental and pharmacy as well as ambulance.
Ms Reginald noted that it is only the dental health clinic which still operates in a section of the old health centre that still remains standing adjacent to the new one.
Meanwhile Ms Reginald has said that in terms of kitchen utensils and equipment the hospital is already equipped but more will be required and will hopefully be brought in as admission starts.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=250668