Dominica launches REACH project funded by Global Affairs Canada, improving adolescent health services across 5 countries including Dominica and Grenada.
Dominica: The Reproductive Education and Adolescent Community Health (REACH) project has been officially launched in Dominica, aiming to improve the lives and well-being of young people in the country through enhanced healthcare and support services, including protection against gender-based violence.
The REACH project was launched on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Fort Young Hotel in Roseau. This project is being funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by Alinea International Canada in collaboration with the OECS Commission and CITEC Jamaica.
The launching ceremony was attended by Government officials and key stakeholders including the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services, Dr. Cassandra Williams, the Project Manager of the REACH project, Cynthia Fontenelle, and other officials within the Ministry of Health.
During her address in the ceremony, Dr. Cassandra Williams expressed that the launch marks an important moment for Dominica. The Minister of State in the Ministry of Health, reiterated the Government’s commitment to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of adolescents in the country, stating that the project is timely and will help achieve just that.
We recognise that REACH seeks to improve the sexual health, reproductive health and wellbeing of adolescents, particularly girls in Dominica Grenada, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. And for Dominica this initiative comes at a critical and meaningful time.
She further added, “At its heart, REACH is about empowerment and compassion. It is about ensuring that young people have access to accurate information so they can make informed decisions about their health, their relationships, and their future.”
Project Manager, Cynthia Fontenelle, cemented the importance of the REACH project for empowering and supporting the young people and their future.
“This work is not only important; it is essential! Across our region, many young people continue to face real barriers when trying to access the information and services they need,” Fontenelle stated.
Apart from Dominica, the REACH project will operate in four other countries, including Grenada, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.