Profiles: Heroes, Role Models and Pioneers of Trinidad and Tobago - by Nasser Khan

116 ELIZABETH QUAMINA (1929 – 1997) E lizabeth Quamina was born in Wales, she rose to the post of Chief Medical Officer in 1979 and became the first female and longest serving (33 years) Chief Medical Officer (CMO) in the nation’s history. She attended the University of London (1960) where she qualified in Medicine and Public Administration. Quamina served in the public health system where she held several senior positions including Medical Officer (1955), County Medical Officer of Health (1965), Principal Medical Officer (1969) and finally CMO (1979). Her work in the health sector is documented in the many strides taken under her watch for improvement of public health and access to proper health care. She played a major role in organising the immunisation programmes against Polio. She was also instrumental in the Breast Feeding Program. Her efforts towards improvement of the status of the health sector resulted in better primary health care and also the formulation of the first National Health Plan of T&T. Quamina chaired the National AIDS Committee and served on many other Cabinet-appointed committees including the Task Force that planned and implemented the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (1981 – 1987). Quamina was an active member of the National Cancer Society and worked hard to establish screening clinics for prostate, cervical and breast cancer. The National Cancer Registry, now known as the Dr. Elizabeth Quamina Cancer Registry, was named in her honour. • 1980 Chaconia Medal Gold • 1985 PAHO Award for Administration; Medal of the Medical Society, WHO (World Health Organisation) • 1986 Scroll of Honour from the Trinidad and Tobago Medical Association • 1988 PAHO / WHO Gold Medal for Health for All