Beyond Pink Ignites Call for Greater Healthcare Access and Treatment Choices for Caribbean Women

Caribbean POSH Founder Janette N. Brin champions improved access to women’s healthcare as successful inaugural event highlights treatment alternatives, prevention and regional healthcare challenges.

The positive response to Caribbean POSH’s inaugural Beyond Pink: Know Your Body. Know Your Options. event has reinforced the need for greater access to women’s healthcare, including specialist services, treatment alternatives and reliable health information in the Virgin Islands and across the Caribbean.

Held on Saturday, October 24, at Maria’s by the Sea, the event brought together women and medical professionals for engaging discussions on uterine fibroids, pelvic health, menopause, reproductive wellness and preventive care. The presentations and interactive discussions were enthusiastically received, highlighting the importance of creating more opportunities for women to engage directly with medical experts.

For Caribbean POSH Founder and CEO Janette N. Brin, the initiative represents a new chapter in the organisation’s longstanding commitment to women’s empowerment, with a greater focus on health education and advocacy.

“Women’s empowerment must include our health,”

said Brin.

“What Beyond Pink reinforced is that women want to better understand the changes their bodies go through, recognise symptoms they shouldn’t ignore and learn how to protect their health. But they also want more choices and better access to care. We need to ensure women are informed about available treatments and can access the specialists and services they need, even when those options are not available locally. Every woman deserves the opportunity to make informed decisions about her health.”

Fibroids Discussion Highlights Treatment Choices and Healthcare Challenges

A major highlight was the keynote presentation by Dr. Mikhail C.S.S. Higgins, an interventional radiologist, who explored uterine fibroids and treatment options, including uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), a minimally invasive alternative to surgery for appropriately selected patients.

Uterine fibroids disproportionately affect women of African descent. According to a landmark U.S. study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, more than 80% of Black women and nearly 70% of White women are estimated to develop fibroids by age 50. The findings include fibroids detected through ultrasound, including those without symptoms. While these figures are based on U.S. research rather than Caribbean-specific data, they underscore the importance of greater awareness, early diagnosis and access to appropriate treatment options.

Both Dr. Higgins and Dr. Carolyn Betty highlighted the importance of nutrition and vitamin D, discussing the higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among Black women and research examining its possible association with fibroid development. The discussions reinforced the importance of preventive healthcare and understanding factors that may influence women’s reproductive health.

Dr. Higgins also spoke passionately about his advocacy for making more treatment options available within the Caribbean, emphasising the importance of expanding regional access to specialist services and minimally invasive procedures so women are not unnecessarily limited in their healthcare choices.

He further raised concerns about physician burnout and its potential impact on patient care, including missed or delayed diagnoses, reinforcing the importance of supporting healthcare professionals while encouraging patients to ask questions and seek second opinions when necessary.

For Brin, who has personally experienced the challenges associated with fibroids, these discussions reinforced the importance of improving healthcare access throughout the region.

“Women deserve to know their choices,”

said Brin.

“Just because a treatment is not available locally does not mean it does not exist. We need stronger connections across the Caribbean so women can access the specialists, information and treatments they need to make informed decisions about their health.”

Beyond Pink _ Dr. Higgins

Medical Experts Deliver Valuable Insights

The event featured an accomplished lineup of medical professionals whose presentations addressed important aspects of women’s health.

Dr. Carolyn Betty, Consultant Obstetrician/Gynaecologist at The Wellness Center Clinics, discussed pelvic health, including changes associated with childbirth and menopause.

Dr. Neveta Sutherland-Vaccianna, Consultant Obstetrician/Gynaecologist and Certified Menopause Specialist, addressed menopause, breast health and important changes women should not ignore.

Dr. Craig Stoutt, Anesthesiologist and Intensivist, explored anaesthesia and what women should know before undergoing surgery, helping participants better understand the importance of informed treatment decisions.

The programme also featured community conversations, a doctors’ roundtable and complimentary wellness services provided by The Wellness Center Clinics. The interactive format encouraged questions, shared experiences and meaningful engagement between attendees and medical professionals.

Moving Beyond Awareness to Better Access

Introduced during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Beyond Pink was designed to broaden the conversation around women’s health and highlight conditions that affect women throughout their lives.

Brin believes greater awareness must be accompanied by improved access to healthcare information, specialist referrals and appropriate treatment options.

“Awareness is important, but it is only the beginning. We also need to look at how women access the care they need, especially when specialised services are not available here in the Virgin Islands. There is an opportunity for stronger collaboration with medical professionals across the Caribbean to help close those gaps.”

Building on the event’s positive reception, Brin hopes Beyond Pink will become an ongoing platform for women’s health education, meaningful conversations and advocacy.

“Beyond Pink was never intended to be just another event. My hope is that it encourages more conversations, greater awareness and, ultimately, better healthcare experiences for women in our communities.”

Caribbean POSH extends its appreciation to the participating medical professionals, attendees and event supporters, including Smith’s Ferry Services, Bella Blooms, Travel Wise, Skelton Group of Companies, Maria’s by the Sea and The Wellness Center Clinics.