Antigua and Barbuda has been chosen as one of the Caribbean countries to be visited by the 2010 Disaster Management Workshop series being conducted by the Baptist Health International Center of Miami. According to a press release from the centre, the workshop is being brought to the Caribbean region in light of Haiti’s recent earthquake in January of this year. In doing this, they have teamed up with Caribbean Central American Action (CCAA). The Bahamas and the Turks & Caicos have been the locations of recent workshops; however, on April 14 and 15, 2010, respectively, the twin-island state and St. Kitts/Nevis will be next in line to host this event. The centre’s Manager of Emergency Preparedness and Security, Chris Kilroy, will address issues such as the importance of an organised incident management system to ensure safety and appropriate use of resources by recovery task forces.
“The Disaster Management Workshop Series brings together the region’s top health care and business leaders, chambers of commerce, public safety authorities, disaster preparedness managers and contingency planners to address pertinent topics, including public and private sector communications and community-based organisations’ roles in local readiness and recovery,” the release stated.
The programme was developed to increase awareness of best practices in disaster management, with public health assistance as the top priority in planning and relief. Baptist Health South Florida is the largest faith-based, non-profit health care organisation in the region. Baptist Health includes Baptist Hospital of Miami, Baptist Children's Hospital, South Miami Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute and Baptist Outpatient Services. Baptist Health offers a variety of executive health care services, including physicals, wellness coaches and other health care services.
Baptist Health Foundation, the organisation’s fund-raising arm, supports services at all hospitals and facilities affiliated with Baptist Health South Florida.