Roseau, Dominica, 13 December 2024 (PAHO) - On 13 December 2024, over 30 senior managers from the Dominica Hospitals Authority (DHA) gathered at Jungle Bay Resort for a one-day end of year Manager’s Retreat under the theme “Strategic Outlook: Tools and techniques for Strategy Implementation.”
The aim of this retreat was to reflect on the achievements of 2024 including outstanding managers for the period, as well as to discuss the importance of leadership through collaboration as a focus for 2025.
In attendance and providing remarks during the opening session was Dr. Laura Esprit, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Wellness and Social Services (Ag) who lauded the DHA for its achievements in the management of clinical, administrative processes, and other processes, and congratulated the DHA team for setting an example in the region as it continues in its pursuit towards accreditation.
Chairperson of the DHA Board Dr. Donald Peters, CEO Ms. Nancy Francis, Human Resource Manager Mrs. Oyane Matthew-Henderson, and Director of Engineering Services, Ms. Nicole Laville, also contributed to the opening session.
Dr. Nicole Slack-Liburd, PAHO/WHO Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries (ECC) Country Program Specialist provided brief remarks. Dr. Slack-Liburd discussed the support PAHO provided to the DHA for 2024 in health systems strengthening such as the development of the strategic plan. She also spoke of the importance of developing leadership qualities among all staff in the DHA, which will ultimately result in a stronger health system.
PAHO’s Advisor, Health Systems and Services, Dr. Viswanath Partapsingh, also brought remarks and commended the DHA team for its growth in leadership, management and stewardship in 2024.
Change management specialist and featured speaker, Mr. Verieux Mourillon, led a two-hour session under the theme Leading with Vision: Embracing, Collaborating, Strategy and encouraged the team to appreciate the positive experiences at the DHA and use them if necessary to shift their mindset as they work towards providing quality health services. The importance of collaborative environments to positive outcomes and how this applies in healthcare settings was also discussed.
The day concluded with the DHA recording their affirmations through a group exercise led by PAHO which focused on reflecting on 2024 and the way forward for 2025 in the context of the DHAs vision of “World-Class Hospitals Providing Quality People-Centered Healthcare for All”.
