The University of the West Indies Open Campus Dominica, in collaboration with Optical Services Limited, the Dominica Medical Association and the UWI Alumni Association (Dominica Chapter), announces the Third Annual Dr. Bernard A. Sorhaindo Memorial Lecture in the Dr. B. A. Sorhaindo Annual Memorial Lecture Series on Thursday, December 16, 2010 at the Fort Young Hotel, Conference Room, commencing at 7:30 pm.
This year’s public lecture will feature two presentations on the following topics: “The Chronic Non-Communicable Disease Epidemic: A Possible Solution for Dominica” and “Conquering Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases in Children: Antigua’s Battle.”
We are privileged to have as our presenters this year Dr. Paul Ricketts and Dr. Leslie Walwyn.
Dr. Ricketts, a graduate of the University of the West Indies and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, is Dominica’s national epidemiologist and the only practicing epidemiologist in the country. He has been working in collaboration with regional agencies, developing surveillance systems for communicable diseases to include emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases and piloted the first syndromic surveillance system for communicable diseases in the English-speaking Caribbean in 2003.
Dr. Walwyn, a Jamaican by birth and national of Antigua & Barbuda, is also a graduate in medicine from the University of the West Indies. She also holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from the region’s premier University. She is a general practitioner at the Stapleton Lane Medical Clinic in St. John’s Antigua since 2001 and a medical officer with the Medical Benefits Scheme also in Antigua, since 2003. She developed the Medical Benefits Scheme research and intervention school-based programme entitled “School Outreach Programme” and directed and co-produced a health radio programme entitled “In Touch with Your Health”, broadcast on Observer and ZDK Radio, 2006-2008.
This Memorial Lecture Series, like the Annual Dame Eugenia Charles Distinguished Lecture Series, seeks to keep alive the memories of a great Dominican. The lecture is particularly fitting at a time when there is much concern about the chronic non-communicable disease epidemic (including diabetes, hypertension, stroke, heart disease, obesity and cancer) which can seriously undermine the health, wellness and productivity of our island’s population. It is also a means of rallying our citizens – young and old – to engage in activities that will promote and sustain healthy lifestyles.
As always, we wish to emphasize that this lecture is public and is especially mounted to reach out to the general Dominican community by sharing information and knowledge on relevant matters and subjects. It is also hoped that such fora will contribute to logical, analytical and informed discussion on topical issues. Public education is therefore the fundamental reason for presenting this lecture. We therefore look forward to welcoming all.
His Excellency the President, Dr. Nicholas J. O. Liverpool and Mrs. Liverpool will be in attendance. Proceedings will commence at 7:30 pm promptly.
I will certainly be attending this one, mainly to ask serious and relevant questions about the state of affairs of health care in our country, with specific reference to the CNCD’s.
AS much as we like to boast about Dominica’s system, we may be shocked to find out the real picture.
I’m an insider you see, so I know.
I would like to appeal to the Dominican public to make a special effort to attend this lecture. It is expected to be very interesting and interactive and could actually help you to save a life.
Thanks DNO. It seems that persons don’t read all the news. I would like to be at this lecture to listen to Dr Ricketts and Dr Walwyn.