Staff at the Psychiatric Hospital and the Ministry of Health and Wellness now have a dedicated space where they can prioritise their health and fitness, with the reopening of the Mind & Body Gym at the Black Rock, St Michael institution.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Davidson Ishmael, officially opened the facility on Wednesday, stating that it was also open to members of the public for a nominal fee.
“I want that as soon as we cut this ribbon that people can actually start utilising the space. It may not be a Surfside gym, but it is still a premium facility and of very high quality in terms of equipment, infrastructure and space.
“As we have invested . . . in you [the staff] and your wellbeing, I want to encourage every member of the Psychiatric Hospital team and those at the rest of the healthcare facilities, in addition to the public of Barbados to make good use of this space,” Ishmael said.
The minister added that if “we are going to be talking about health and wellness as a Ministry of Health and Wellness, we have to make sure that we’re providing as many avenues and opportunities for our staff or team members to be at their optimum”.
“Part of being at your optimum is being able to have access to healthcare facilities and also gym facilities that would allow you to be able to function at your best. We believe that everyone has a right to good healthcare, mental health as you guys are part of this whole mental health system and infrastructure that we have placed in Barbados to be able to provide this service to our people. We understand that you, too, have to be at your best level and at your best quality of mental healthcare . . . ,” he said.
Ishmael explained that the reopening of the facility was another prong in government’s efforts to ensure that the island’s healthcare service providers are given access to spaces that would allow them to be at their best.
“Therefore, you can then provide that service, that excellent service that you’re already doing [and] continue to provide that excellent service to the patients who are here at the hospital as well.”
He urged members of the public to utilise the facilities which will be made accessible to them at a “minimal” fee.
“We want persons to be able to come into the actual environment of the Psychiatric Hospital, understanding that this is a safe space. It is a safe space, just like any other space in Barbados, and we therefore want people to be able to traverse through understanding that they can come to this gym.
“They can exercise within the environs of persons who are seeking assistance and seeking care, but this is not a place that they can run from or should run from, but this is a place where we can embrace holistically as a society,” Ishmael said. (BGIS/FW)
