History of the CDGC
At the Child Development and Guidance Centre (CDGC), children from birth to the age
of sixteen years receive all the necessary support and help in order for them to
achieve their full potential and become contributing members of society. Although
much had been achieved for the health of all children in St. Lucia over the 20
years since it had achieved independence in 1996 - such as improved pre-natal care,
good immunisation, reduction of malnutrition - it is only recently that comprehensive
screening of children at 6 weeks, 8 months, 3 and 5 years has been instituted in
the Health centres.
However, for children who were identified through this screening process, there were
limited services and no paediatric therapists (e.g., speech and language therapists,
paediatric physiotherapists or occupational therapists) available on the island before
1998.
The need for further assessment and the development and implementation of an individual
intervention/treatment plan by a multi-disciplinary team of professionals at the centre
was the rationale for the initiative in 1997 to start the CDGC in St. Lucia.
The idea for the project was supported by the Minister of Health Hon. Sarah Flood and
also Archbishop Kelvin Felix of St. Lucia. The initial financial support was guaranteed
by Dr. H. Brandenburg, Bishop of Sweden, who donated the sum of US$ 50,000 in January
1998. In October 1998 an association was founded in Münster, Germany, "Förderverein Villa
Kunterbunt" (the name refers to a well known children’s book written by Astrid Lindgren)
in order to raise funds to help support the CDGC.
Between 1998 and 2002 the CDGC team organised an annual three-week
summer camp for children
with special needs. Under the theme "Moving Towards an Independent Future" children
with multiple disabilities received assessment and individual therapy, while their
caregiver was present, to learn how to continue the therapy and integrate it into their
daily routine at home. Experienced physiotherapists, speech and language therapists
and occupational therapists came from the UK, USA and Germany to volunteer their
services. Not only did the participants benefit tremendously, but Community Health
Aides and Nurses were also invited to take part and learn from the visiting therapists.
In 2001, the CDGC became a registered non-profit organisation in St.
Lucia.
In 2002 the CDGC was adopted by SLADD, the St. Lucia Association for Persons with
Developmental Disabilities. It endeavours to offer a comprehensive service focusing on
the
diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of developmental disabilities, alongside the Dunnottar School for children with learning disabilities and the vocational workshop.
The CDGC was initially housed at the school, but a new home
for the CDGC opened in March 2005 consisting of one office for the
paediatrician and one for the physiotherapist. This building was
jointly funded by local businesses and Villa Kunterbunt, without any
financial aid from the St. Lucian government.
The multi-disciplinary team ideally consists of a number of health
professionals: a paediatrician, a paediatric
physiotherapist, a speech and language therapist and an occupational
therapist. However, due to a lack of funding from the St. Lucian
government, these positions do not yet exist on a permanent,
full-time basis. The core team to date has been comprised of
Dr. Schüling (paediatrician and director) and Elaine Clement
(paediatric physiotherapist) with overseas speech and language therapists and
occupational therapists volunteering their services as frequently as possible
for limited periods of time.
The CDGC promotes the right of children to health care and education in a safe,
secure and loving environment. In order to make
these services available for all needy children there are no fees/charges for assessments
and therapy sessions. Parents are, however, invited to make a contribution.
The long term goal is to see the CDGC being run by well trained St. Lucian professionals
fully supported and funded by the Ministries of Health and Education.
For further information, or if you wish to make a contribution,
please see the "contact
us!" section.
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Dr. B. Schüling (CDGC director),
Dr. M. Camps (Previous community paedeatrician)and
Dr. J. Bird (Present community paedeatrician)
at the CDGC opening, 4.3.05 |
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St. Lucia, West Indies
A map of St. Lucia
The flag of St. Lucia
2004
Construction
of the new CDGC
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