The Premier and Minister of the Ministry of Health, Agriculture and Human Services, Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing, confirmed that the construction of a Mental Health Group Home in the Turks and Caicos Islands is set to begin.
The ground breaking ceremony was held Wednesday March 23rd on the former hospital grounds in the Nation’s capital and was a highly anticipated event. Once completed, the Mental Health home will be a 24 bed facility that will accommodate persons with chronic and persisting mental illnesses that need supportive housing and care. There will also be provision of acute care services as well as areas for group therapy and recreation/leisure.
This is a two phase construction project that is estimated to be completed within 1 year at an approximate cost of $700,000.
The Acting Governor, H. E. Anya Williams, Hon. Premier and Minister Amanda Misick among other MPs, representatives from the Public Works Department, Olympic Construction (Contractor), public servants and other well-wishers in the Community of Grand Turk, attended the ground breaking ceremony.
The Director of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence, Dr. Alicia Malcolm stated; “There are a number of persons in the TCI that will benefit from the future group home and this project symbolizes a strong demonstration that persons with mental illnesses are not forgotten, it says that they are valuable and that they deserve the best care that can be afforded them in their own country”.
The Ministry of Health and the Department of Mental Health also expressed their sincere thanks to all the persons who played a critical role in bringing the project to this point.