State Secretary Paul Blokhuis (Health, Welfare and Sport) (VWS), is visiting Aruba, Bonaire,Curaçao and Colombia from Tuesday, February 13th till Tuesday, February 20th. He is introduced to various (youth) health care facilities on the Islands and in Colombia. In this way he obtaines insight into the health care provision and quality, that the inhabitants of the Caribbean Netherlands make use of.
Bonaire
Bonaire is a ‘ special municipality’ (public entity) of the Netherlands. Health and youth care on Bonaire are the responsibilityof the State Secretary of VWS. That is the reason why, in several days , Blokhuis visits the hospital, the nursing home, a day care for the elderly, the youth care and a mental health institution. He also visits small-scale health initiatives: a living care provision for young people with behavioural problems and a shelter for teenage girls.
During his working visit Blokhuis will also meet with the government of Bonaire (commissioners and members of the Island Council). He will have talks with them about: youth care, social care, domestic violence, sports and movement.
Saba and St. Eustatius are special municipalities (public entities) of the Netherlands as well.The State Secretary will visit these islands before the summer.
Aruba en Curaçao
Aruba and Curaçao are independent countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Thus, they are solely responsible for the health care and have their own health care system. Because not all specialist care can be offered on Bonaire, patients in need of more complex care, are sent to Aruba and Curaçao and for very complex care to Colombia. On both Aruba and Curaçao, Blokhuis will visit the hospitals that have to deal with this influx of patients. In addition, he will meet the governors of both islands.
Colombia
Colombia also has a considerable influx of patients from the Caribbean Netherlands for the very complex medical specialists. Blokhuis travels from Bogotá to Medellin and will visit hospitals and a medical research center who treat patients of Caribbean Netherlands.