00:00The 540-bed Port of Spain General Hospital Central Block is currently at 60% completion.
00:09Drive down Charlotte Street, you'll see it yourself.
00:11It is scheduled for opening in March 2025.
00:14On another note, Finance Minister Colman Byrd says action is being taken towards the implementation
00:20of several programs to fight cancer.
00:23Currently there are over 10,000 individuals in our nation who are living with various
00:28forms of cancer, with prostate cancer being the most common among men and breast cancer
00:33the most prevalent among women.
00:35Byrd says the US$10 million in equipment donated by Phoenix Gas Processes Ltd earlier in September
00:41will assist with early detection and effective diagnosis.
00:45And on the government's end…
00:47We are currently enhancing the lung cancer clinic through the procurement of specialized
00:52medical equipment that will be capable of providing advanced diagnostic and treatment
00:57services for lung cancer patients.
01:00The minister states that they are on the last of the three-phase program estimated at US$27
01:05million.
01:07According to Byrd, diabetes, cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases account for the
01:12highest mortality rate internationally and here at home.
01:17Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality, accounting for more than 70%
01:22annually.
01:23Byrd says targeted programs like those on gestational diabetes and the Titi Moves campaigns
01:30seek to mitigate that.
01:31Meanwhile, Byrd says several initiatives in collaboration with iGovTiti are to be launched
01:36by December 2025 geared towards full digitization of the public health care system.
01:42Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
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