Willemstad – Prevention is the motivation in 2019 of Minister Suzanne Camelia-Römer, of the Fundashon Prevenshon and of the Foundation for Preventive Medicine. The need for prevention applies to everyone. Make sure you are on time and that you anticipate symptoms of your illness. Prevention will have the same meaning for everyone; that is, try to avoid a disease as much as possible.
Fundashon Prevenshon unmasks the first signs and, if possible, even prevents the disease from ever striking. In 2008, this was one of the important goals of the foundation of Fundashon Prevenshon. Since then, breast cancer screening and cervical cancer screening have been initiatives that Fundashon Prevenshon has implemented over the past decade. These activities have already diagnosed 233 women with breast cancer before they knew about their disease. Yes, before they needed very drastic treatments. So they survived with a good quality of life.
The meaning for the community is evident. With great gratitude, Fundashon Prevenshon celebrated its 10th anniversary on December 14th. Professor Herbert ‘Bob’ Pinedo thanked everyone on that occasion who made the foundation and continuation of Fundashon Prevenshon possible, especially the staff members. The positive cooperation with partners, the involvement of the community, the commitment of the employees and the support from donors were discussed. With financial support from the government, the Fundashon managed to secure the sustainability of its services. The gift of the Jacob Foundation to the Fundashon in 2008 to offer the housing at the Klipstraat Otrobanda for 10 years rent-free, was of crucial importance.
Because the space on the Klipstraat has been extremely limited, Fundashon Prevenshon has been searching for a larger housing for two years now, and is working on its large plan for the longer term. Together with the Foundation for Preventive Medicine, the Fundashon Prevenshon today announces that her search for a more suitable space in Otrobanda has borne fruit. The Foundation for Preventive Medicine offers the Fundashon Prevenshon the opportunity to realize pro bono its prevention plans in a broader and very attractive, central environment.
From May 2019, Fundashon Prevenshon will offer its services in a client-friendly manner free of charge to the entire population in its Caribbean Prevention Center in Huize Molenplein, which is currently being restored. The location has ample parking space and is just a stone’s throw away from the large bus station of Otrobanda. The opening of Huize Molenplein by Minister Camelia-Römer is planned for this spring. The contract between the Foundation for Preventive Medicine and the Fundashon Prevenshon was signed this afternoon by the boards of the two foundations. The Caribbean Prevention Center formula, with concentration of all preventive facilities within an organization, is a model for initiatives throughout the Caribbean region. A first visit to the government of Martinique for the presentation of the model is scheduled for March of this year.
