AGP Executive Report

Hospital Infrastructure Update: The Ministry of Mental Health says renovation works will begin Monday, Sept. 28, 2026 on Block C of Mt. Gay Psychiatric Hospital, with patients relocated within the compound and visitation arranged in advance. Clinic Access: Grand Anse Medical Station will close Saturday, Sept. 19 for deep cleaning, with routine services moved to St George’s Health Centre that day. Public Health Services: The Ministry of Education temporarily relocated the Special Education Needs Unit to Galleria Mall (Grand Anse) for services 8am–4pm, Mon–Fri, while other units move to the Ministerial Complex. Sickle Cell Awareness: A new opinion piece highlights the long gap between sickle cell discovery and effective treatments, pointing to the need for better care and faster access to medicines. Dementia Focus: St. George’s University calls for greater dementia awareness, early recognition, and patient-centered care, citing WHO figures on the global burden. Youth & Sports: Grenada’s U-23 volleyball team has departed for the NORCECA U-23 Copa America in El Salvador (Sept. 20–28). Environment & Wellness: Sandals Foundation coordinated International Coastal Cleanup Day in Grenada with 70 volunteers along the Airport Top Road to Devil’s Bay.

Sickle Cell Awareness: A new push for better sickle cell treatments highlights how long the gap has been between the disease’s early discovery and the arrival of truly effective medicines, with Grenada-born links noted in the history. Mental Health Services: The Ministry of Mental Health says renovation works will start Monday Sept. 28 on Block C of Mt. Gay Psychiatric Hospital, with patients moved within the compound and services continuing without interruption. Clinic Access: Grand Anse Medical Station will close Saturday Sept. 19 for deep cleaning, with routine services shifting to St George’s Health Centre that day. Dementia Care: St. George’s University is calling for stronger dementia awareness, early recognition, and patient-centered care across Africa as dementia cases rise worldwide. Public Hospitals Planning: Grenada launches a national naming competition for the proposed Grenada Public Hospitals Authority, inviting ideas for name, logo and tagline. Youth & Sports: Grenada’s U-23 volleyball team departs for the NORCECA U-23 Copa America in El Salvador (Sept. 20–28). Climate & Children: UNICEF-backed research warns that by mid-century most Eastern Caribbean children could face multiple climate hazards, with no “safe zone.”

Mental Health Services Update: Renovation works are set to begin on Block C of the Mt. Gay Psychiatric Hospital in Mt. Gay, St. George on Monday, Sept. 28, with patients relocated to a newly renovated block on the same compound; the Ministry says mental health services will continue without interruption. Clinic Access: The Grand Anse Medical Station will close Saturday, Sept. 19 for deep cleaning, with routine services provided at St. George’s Health Centre that day, then normal operations resume Monday, Sept. 21. Dementia Awareness: St. George’s University is calling for stronger dementia awareness, early recognition, and patient-centered care, citing WHO figures of 57 million people living with dementia worldwide. Public Hospital Planning: Grenada has launched a National Naming Competition for the proposed Grenada Public Hospitals Authority, inviting submissions for a name, logo, and tagline. Youth & Health Through Sport: Grenada’s U-23 volleyball team has departed for the NORCECA U-23 Copa America Championships in El Salvador (Sept. 20–28). Climate & Child Health: A UNICEF-commissioned study warns that children across the Eastern Caribbean face overlapping climate threats, with no “safe zone” expected by mid-century. Community Wellness & Environment: Sandals Foundation mobilised 700+ volunteers across the region for International Coastal Cleanup Day, including a Grenada cleanup involving local schools and partners.

Hospital Reform & Community Input: Grenada has launched a National Naming Competition for the proposed Grenada Public Hospitals Authority, inviting residents to submit a name, logo and tagline (student and adult categories) as part of the hospital statutorisation push toward more accountable, patient-focused care. Mental Health Infrastructure: The Ministry of Mental Health says renovation will begin on Block C of Mt Gay Psychiatric Hospital on 28 September, with patients temporarily moved within the hospital and visitation arranged in advance. Clinic Access Update: Grand Anse Medical Station will close on 19 September for deep cleaning, with routine services shifting to St George’s Health Centre that day. Education Support Moves: The Special Education Needs Unit has temporarily relocated to Galleria Mall (Grand Anse) for public access 8am–4pm, Monday to Friday, with other units moved to the Ministerial Complex and school administration kept at the Ministry of Health. Public Health Outreach: SGU St George’s University of Veterinary Medicine, with Grenada’s health and agriculture ministries, will host free rabies vaccination clinics for dogs island-wide on 26 September for World Rabies Day. Health & Wellness Learning: A new Carriacou and Petite Martinique Primary Schools Sports Quiz Competition will spotlight sports knowledge, health and wellness, and youth leadership through school teams.

Health Infrastructure Update: Grenada’s Grand Anse Medical Station will close for a deep clean on Saturday, 19 September, with routine services moving to St George’s Health Centre, then normal operations resume Monday, 21 September. Mental Health Services: Renovation works are set to begin on Block C of Mt Gay Psychiatric Hospital on Monday, 28 September, with patients temporarily relocated within the compound and visitation arranged in advance—services continue without interruption. Para Sport Development: The Caribbean Adaptive Sports Alliance (CASA) returned from a seven-day visit to South Korea, bringing a new blueprint for strengthening para sport across the region after tours of major training facilities and talks with the Korea Paralympic Committee. Dementia Awareness: St George’s University (SGU) is calling for greater dementia awareness, early diagnosis, and patient-centered care as dementia rises globally. Rabies Prevention: SGU and Grenada’s Ministries of Agriculture and Health will host free rabies vaccination clinics for dogs island-wide on Saturday, 26 September. Climate & Child Health: A UNICEF-commissioned study warns that children across the Eastern Caribbean face overlapping climate threats, with more than nine in ten projected to be exposed to at least three major hazards by mid-century.

Hospital Update: Grenada’s Ministry of Mental Health says Block C at Mt Gay Psychiatric Hospital will close for renovation starting Monday, 28 September 2026, with patients moved to a renovated block on-site and visitation arranged in advance. Clinic Access: Grand Anse Medical Station will shut for a deep clean on Saturday, 19 September, with routine services shifting to St George’s Health Centre that day; normal operations resume Monday, 21 September. Disease Prevention: St George’s University (SGU) and Grenada’s Ministries of Agriculture and Health will run free island-wide rabies vaccination clinics for dogs on Saturday, 26 September, in recognition of World Rabies Day. Sickle Cell Spotlight: A new popular science book, Curved Air, highlights sickle cell disease and the promise of gene-based treatments like Casgevy and Lyfgenia. Climate & Child Health: UNICEF-backed research warns that in the Eastern Caribbean, more than 9 in 10 children could face at least three climate hazards by mid-century, with no “safe zone,” raising risks for health facilities and schools. Regional Health Security: CARPHA’s CariPHLN workshop in Barbados focused on strengthening Caribbean lab preparedness and faster detection of health threats. Local Health Infrastructure: PM Dickon Mitchell says work is underway to select a design-build contractor for a new 250-room hospital in Calivigny/Hope Vale, targeting a contract award in early 2027.

Hospital Update: Renovation works are set to begin on Block C of Mt Gay Psychiatric Hospital on Monday, 28 September 2026, with patients temporarily moved within the compound and visitation arranged in advance to keep care running safely. Clinic Closure: Grand Anse Medical Station will close on Saturday, 19 September for deep cleaning, with routine services shifting to St George’s Health Centre that day before normal operations resume Monday, 21 September. Mental Health Watch: A Grenada consultant is urging urgent, everyday attention to mental health after reports of 10 suicides last month, pointing to burnout, economic stress, and early warning signs in behaviour and sleep. Sickle Cell Spotlight: A new popular science book on sickle cell disease highlights the long journey from early descriptions to modern gene-based treatments, including Casgevy and Lyfgenia. Rabies Prevention: St George’s University (SGU) and Grenada’s health and agriculture ministries will host free rabies vaccination clinics for dogs across the island on Saturday, 26 September. Climate & Children: UNICEF-backed research warns that Eastern Caribbean children face overlapping climate hazards, with no “safe zone” expected by mid-century, raising risks for schools and health facilities. New Hospital Plan: PM Dickon Mitchell says the government is selecting a design-build contractor for a new 250-room hospital in Calivigny/Hope Vale, aiming to award the contract in the first quarter of 2027.

Hospital Updates: Mt Gay Psychiatric Hospital’s Block C will close for renovations starting Monday, 28 September 2026, with patients temporarily moved within the compound and visitation arranged in advance to keep care running safely. Clinic Access: Grand Anse Medical Station will shut on Saturday, 19 September for deep cleaning, with routine services shifting to St George’s Health Centre, then resuming Monday, 21 September. Mental Health Watch: Calls are growing after reports of multiple suicides in Grenada, with consultants urging families and workplaces to spot early warning signs and act sooner. Sickle Cell Spotlight: A new popular science book, Curved Air, highlights sickle cell disease and the promise of newer treatments after Casgevy and Lyfgenia’s approvals. Rabies Prevention: SGU and Grenada’s ministries will run free dog rabies vaccination clinics island-wide on Saturday, 26 September for World Rabies Day. Climate & Child Health: UNICEF-backed research warns there may be “no safe zone” for Eastern Caribbean children, with many exposed to multiple climate hazards—plus a separate finding that climate plans often lack child-focused tracking. Infrastructure for Health Resilience: The new RIISE facility is now operating, offering technical help to speed up climate-resilient projects in Grenada and other Eastern Caribbean states.

Hospital Updates: Renovation works are set to begin on Block C of Mt Gay Psychiatric Hospital on Monday, 28 September 2026, with patients temporarily moved within the compound and visitation arranged in advance. Local Health Services: Grand Anse Medical Station will close on Saturday, 19 September for deep cleaning, with routine services shifting to St George’s Health Centre that day before reopening Monday, 21 September. Mental Health: Grenada recorded 10 suicides last month, prompting urgent calls to treat mental health as a daily priority and to watch for early warning signs like withdrawal, sleep changes, and statements of worthlessness. Sickle Cell Spotlight: A new popular science book, Curved Air, highlights the story of sickle cell disease and the breakthrough moment when gene-based treatments like Casgevy and Lyfgenia gained approval. Wellness & Food: Nutmeg—grown in Grenada and valued for centuries—is being promoted for potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, digestion, and stress-support benefits, with guidance to use small doses and choose quality products. Climate & Child Health: A UNICEF-backed study warns there may be “no safe zone” for Eastern Caribbean children, with most exposed to multiple climate hazards by mid-century, raising risks for health and schooling. Caribbean Health Security: CARPHA’s CariPHLN workshop focused on strengthening lab preparedness and faster detection and response to health threats across the region. Rabies Prevention: Free dog rabies vaccination clinics are planned island-wide for Saturday, 26 September 2026 in recognition of World Rabies Day.

Climate & Child Health: A UNICEF-commissioned study warns that across the Eastern Caribbean, more than one in three children already live where they face at least three climate hazards—and by mid-century it could rise to more than nine in ten, with added heat days, longer droughts, and stronger storms threatening schools and health facilities. Climate Planning Accountability: Another UNICEF analysis finds regional climate plans often lack child-specific targets and tracking, making it hard to prove whether climate spending is actually helping children. Mental Health Urgency: Grenada recorded 10 suicides last month, prompting calls for mental health to be treated as a daily priority, with communities urged to watch for early warning signs and support people before crisis hits. Hospital Updates: Mt Gay Psychiatric Hospital will begin Block C renovations on 28 September, with patients temporarily relocated while mental health services continue. Clinic Closure: Grand Anse Medical Station will close on 19 September for deep cleaning, with routine services moving to St George’s Health Centre that day. Rabies Prevention: Free dog rabies vaccination clinics are set for 26 September island-wide with St George’s University and the Ministries of Agriculture and Health. Wellness Spotlight: A wellness piece highlights nutmeg’s traditional and modern uses, including its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential, while urging small-dose, quality supplement choices.

Temporary Clinic Update: Grand Anse Medical Station will close on Saturday, 19 September for deep cleaning, with routine services moving to St George’s Health Centre; normal operations resume Monday, 21 September. Sickle Cell Spotlight: A new popular science book, Curved Air, highlights the long journey of sickle cell disease and the milestone approval of gene-based treatments Casgevy and Lyfgenia. Climate & Child Health Warning: A UNICEF-commissioned analysis says there’s “no safe zone” for Eastern Caribbean children, with more than 9 in 10 projected to face multiple climate hazards by mid-century, threatening health facilities and schools. Youth Voice on Climate: Saint Lucian youth advocate St Brice calls for meaningful youth participation from the start of climate decisions, not token involvement. Rabies Prevention: Free dog rabies vaccination clinics are set for Saturday, 26 September across Grenada, led by SGU with the Ministry of Health and Agriculture. Wellness Feature: Nutmeg—grown in Grenada—gets a wellness spotlight for its antioxidants and traditional uses, with guidance to choose quality products and start with small doses.

Mental Health Watch: Grenada’s suicide crisis is prompting urgent calls to treat mental health as a daily priority, with experts urging families and workplaces to spot early warning signs and connect people to support before it becomes fatal. Climate & Child Health: A UNICEF-backed study warns there’s “no safe zone” for Eastern Caribbean children, with many living near schools and health facilities exposed to multiple climate hazards—while another analysis finds climate plans often lack child-focused targets to prove investments are helping. Water & Food Security: Regional projections flag longer, more frequent dry spells by mid-century, with Barbados and Grenada among the hardest hit—raising risks for water, farming, school sanitation, and nutrition. Health System Strengthening: Grenada trained health workers to use new online Integrated Health Surveillance Guidelines, improving how notifiable cases are recognized and reported across the system. Rabies Prevention: Free island-wide rabies vaccination clinics for dogs are set for 26 September, led by SGU with the Ministry of Health and Agriculture. Wellness Spotlight: Nutmeg is getting renewed attention in wellness circles for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential, with guidance to use it in small, quality doses.

Rabies Prevention: St George’s University (SGU) will host free, island-wide rabies vaccination clinics for dogs on Saturday, 26 September 2026, with sessions across Grenada’s parishes in recognition of World Rabies Day. Disease Surveillance Upgrade: Forty-five health workers in Grenada were trained to use the country’s new online Integrated Health Surveillance Guidelines, supporting faster reporting of notifiable events and a One Health approach linking human, animal, and environmental health. Climate & Child Health Risk: A UNICEF-backed Eastern Caribbean study warns there’s “no safe zone” for children, with over a third of children, schools, and health facilities already exposed to at least three climate hazards—projected to rise to more than nine in ten by mid-century. Mental Health Urgency: Calls are growing after reports of suicides in Grenada, with advocates urging earlier community support, workplace change, and attention to warning signs. Wellness Spotlight (Nutmeg): Nutmeg—grown in Grenada and long used in traditional medicine—is being promoted for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential, with guidance to use small doses and choose quality products. Community Health & Wellness Events: The Grenada Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation announced the 2nd Annual Grenada Glory Games 2026, featuring a health fair and fitness-focused activities starting 5 December.

Climate & Health: A new UNICEF-commissioned regional study warns that by mid-century, moderate to severe drought could hit parts of the Eastern Caribbean for three to four months each year, with Barbados and Grenada among the hardest hit—raising risks for water, farming, child nutrition, and school sanitation. Local Climate Impact: Saint Lucia’s agriculture minister says climate change is already disrupting crops, fisheries, and water availability—threatening the affordability and access to nutritious food at the “dinner table.” Grenada Health Systems: PAHO/WHO-supported work in Grenada trained 45 health workers to use the country’s new online Integrated Health Surveillance Guidelines, helping facilities report notifiable events consistently as the platform moves to the Government Data Center. Regional Lab Preparedness: CARPHA’s CariPHLN workshop in Barbados brought together lab directors across the Caribbean to strengthen surveillance, diagnostics, and faster response to health threats. Mental Health Urgency: Calls are growing across the region after reports of multiple suicides in Grenada, urging families and workplaces to spot early warning signs and connect people to support sooner. Wellness Spotlight: Nutmeg is being promoted in wellness circles for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential, with traditional uses for digestion and stress.

CARPHA Laboratory Preparedness: CARPHA’s 11th CariPHLN workshop in Barbados brought together lab directors and public health teams to strengthen how quickly the region detects and responds to health threats, with Grenada joining virtually. Grenada Suicide Crisis: Mental health professionals are urging urgent, everyday action after 10 suicides were recorded in Grenada by August 31, calling for families and workplaces to watch for warning signs and connect people to support early. Integrated Health Surveillance: Forty-five Grenada health workers were trained on the new online Integrated Health Surveillance Guidelines, designed to speed reporting and improve coordination across facilities, districts, and national levels using a One Health approach. Health Leadership Training: PAHO and UWI completed the third cohort of a postgraduate health policy and health systems programme, training 11 professionals from across the region, including Grenada. RIISE Infrastructure Support (Health-linked): The RIISE Facility has started operations for Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines, offering technical help that can include health-sector projects and help clear delivery bottlenecks. Mental Health & Community Check-ins: Consultant Hadasha Buckmire highlighted burnout, economic stress, and trauma as key drivers, stressing direct, non-judgmental check-ins as a lifesaving first step.

Suicide Prevention Focus: Grenada recorded 10 suicides as of August 31, prompting renewed calls to treat mental health as a daily priority and to watch for warning signs like withdrawal, sleep problems, and talk of worthlessness. Mental Health Support: A consultant urged families and workplaces to intervene early—checking in directly, listening without judgment, and reducing burnout with manageable workloads and access to care. Grenada Disease Surveillance Upgrade: Forty-five health workers trained to use Grenada’s new online Integrated Health Surveillance Guidelines, designed to speed up reporting and keep facilities aligned through a single updated platform. Regional Health Leadership: PAHO and the University of the West Indies completed a third cohort of a health policy and health systems postgraduate programme, training 11 professionals from across the Caribbean, including Grenada. Rural Health Workforce Funding (US): U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith announced federal grants supporting rural hospitals’ staffing—relevant for regional conversations on keeping health services running. Wellness & Nutrition: A wellness piece highlights nutmeg’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential, plus possible benefits for digestion, stress, and blood sugar—positioned as a modern supplement and traditional ingredient.