The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA), said goodbye to Dr. Virginia Asin, head of Collective Preventive Services (CPS)/Chief Medical Officer, a department within the Ministry VSA last week Friday.
Both the Minister of Public Health Emil Lee and the Secretary General of Ministry VSA Joy Arnell, thanked Dr. Virginia Asin, for her tenure as civil servant at the department, on behalf of the ministry and civil service corps.
Dr. Virginia Asin started working as head of the CPS in January 2012. Prior to filling the aforementioned position, Dr. Asin was Deputy Director of the Ministry of Health of Suriname as well as Head of the Planning Department.
During her five and half year tenure at the Ministry VSA, Dr. Asin along with her staff developed and implemented several plans and programs in both areas of Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) such as a NCD Plan, a National Mental Health Plan, and Ebola Outbreak Prevention Plan, and a Hurricane Preparedness and Control Plan just to mention a few.
Dr. Asin stated that having reached the official age of retirement some two years ago, and even though is retiring from the civil service corps of Sint Maarten, she will not be sitting idle.
Her message to staff last week was: “From the time, you start working, you know that at some point in time, the time will come when you will hit that miracle age called ‘retirement age.’
“For me the time has come and the time is now to say goodbye as a civil servant working for the Government of Sint Maarten. It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve the people of this country and to have shared my experience, my skills, and my knowledge as a professional and personally.
“I am not ready to be sitting in the rocking chair to crochet and reminisce on times were when. I have accepted an offer, to serve the communities of the Caribbean countries at the Caribbean Public Health Agency, CARPHA, in Trinidad.
“Living and working on Sint Maarten has been an amazing journey and experience. I worked with awesome colleagues, made lifelong friends, and was able to continue to be active as a Scout and a Rotarian, and held the distinct pleasure to enjoy cultural exchanges with brothers and sisters on the island.
“The best part of my job was working with you all to bring our information as efficiently and effectively as possible to the public, and I thank you so much for helping me hopefully leave a good legacy behind. Thank you.”
Dr. Virginia Asin, is a medical doctor and physical therapist with more than 30-years of experience in the health sector, both in practice and as a lecturer as well as in administration.
She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health with a focus in Health Organization and Planning.
Dr. Asin is also co-author of several scientific publications.
The Ministry wished Dr. Asin much success on her future endeavors and look forward to continued collaboration from her new position.