Guardian - Business Today - Thursday, October 4, p.29.
BY RHONDA KRYSTAL RAMBALLY

JOHNS HOPKINS Medicine International (JHMI) is to join the T&T Government, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education and the University of T&T (UTT) to form the T&T Health Sciences Initiative (TTHSI).

The initiative was officially launched yesterday at the San Fernando Room, Crowne Plaza hotel, Wrightson Road, Port-of Spain.

The programme is aimed at advancing medicine and health sciences in T&T and other countries in the region, with the JHMI providing administrative and organisational support services, technical assistance, advisory services and clinical and scientific expertise.

The project will focus on academic and research programmes, specialty and clinical programmes and infrastructure and management programmes.

Minister of Health John Rahael called the launch “a red letter day for the delivery of health care to the people of T&T.”

He said the launch of the TTHSI would see the country “revolutionising the health sector in keeping with the vision of what our Government shares, of a people empowered to live healthier and consequently, more productive, happier and longer lives.”

Prime Minister Patrick Manning, who delivered the feature address, praised JHMI’s reputation as a world class medical institution, adding, “T&T has been able to benefit immeasurably from the tremendously wide ranging expertise provided by this most renowned institution.”

He added that the TTHSI will design a replacement facility for the Port-of-Spain General Hospital and the establishment of a “brand new hospital in Central Trinidad.”

Professor Kenneth Julien, chairman of the board of governors and president of the University of Trinidad & Tobago (UTT), and PM Manning later launched the TTHSI Web site— www.tthsi.org.tt

About JHMI

For more than a century, Johns Hopkins Medicine International has set a standard of excellence in medical education, research and clinical care to fulfill its mission of improving the health of the local community and the world.

In 2007, the Johns Hopkins Hospital was ranked the number one hospital in America by the US newsmagazine US News & World Report for the 17th consecutive year.

T&T Health Sciences Initiative (TTHSI)
Specific Projects
Academic and Research Programme:

• A Masters in Health Administration (UTT), which started this month.
• Professional courses in management development for personnel in the Ministry of Health and the regional health authorities (RHAs).
• Establishment of the Caribbean Herbal Research Institute (CAHMRI).
• Enhanced Nursing Education and Medical Education.

• Expansion of cardiovascular services at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC).
• An intention to improve screening procedures for diabetics and to provide additional technologies for the early identification of complications associated with the disease.
• Expanded training for health-care personnel at the community level.
• A proposal is soon expected to establish a mechanism for mandatory new-born hearing screening.
• Training of personnel to identify hearing problems and rehabilitate those already affected.

• Development of a master plan for the Port-of-Spain replacement hospital.
• A new hospital in Central Trinidad.
• Management system reviews at the San Fernando General Hospital and the EWSMC.