The Bottom/Kralendijk -The Saba Island Council recently had a positive meeting with Director of the Caribbean Netherlands Health Insurance Office ZVK Angel Bermudez on Bonaire.

The Island Council delegation, comprising of Members Eviton Heyliger, Vito Charles, Hemmie van Xanten and Esmeralda Johnson, and Registrar Akilah Levenstone, presented a discussion document to Mr. Bermudez. The Island Council was well-received. Mr. Bermudez told the delegation that he truly appreciated the initiative of the Saba Island Council to come to Bonaire to meet with him. Mr. Bermudez promised that he would meet again with the Island Council in a month to discuss short term solutions for the issues presented in the discussion document.

One of the points that the Island Council delegation brought up during the meeting with Mr. Bermudez was the possibility of ZVK covering the costs incurred by patients having to travel to St. Maarten to see a dentist as long as there is no dentist on Saba. It was noted that there has not been a dentist or an oral hygienist on Saba for more than a year. In order to see a dentist, one has to go to St. Maarten, which means the incurring of costs.

In the discussion document that the delegation presented to the ZVK Director, the Island Council alluded to the complaints of the patients on Saba regarding medical referrals and the associated logistical and decision-making issues, and the stricter enforcement of the rules and regulations. The document listed a number of possible solutions.

While on Bonaire last week, the Island Council paid a visit to the Bonaire Housing Foundation FCB and the new social housing project that is being constructed. The delegation further visited Forsa Nobo, a foundation that works with children with behavioral problems, Jong Bonaire, an organization that facilitates after school and care activities for children, and the greenhouse of Bon Terra Bonaire.