The job of health promotions coordinator Mrs. Ivena Laurenceo will not be cut as reported in coverage of the Health, Social Services and Housing budget debate last Friday.

Government will continue to meet the health, social, and housing needs of the community while managing departments and programmes more efficiently.

Health, Social Services and Housing Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness stressed this during yesterday's Budget debate on his Ministry.

In a comprehensive, two-hour speech covering the five major areas within that Ministry, Mr. Edness said hospitals and other departments had managed to function well within a limited budget.

He noted that in some departments, such as Social Services, demands for services had overrun resources.

He said several departments will also have to face staff reductions and reorganise programmes to stay within their budget.

But, Mr. Edness said, Government was considering a detailed plan to solve problems within Social Services.

And he said the Ministry's objective "to promote and maintain the physical, mental and social well-being of the people of Bermuda'' was being met.

He pointed out that two-thirds of the Ministry's $83.3-million budget was spent on health care.

And close to 20 percent of the budget, or $14.9 million, will be used for Social Services.

Just over $10 million, or an increase of 12 percent, has been allocated to the Health Department for 1993/94.

But, Mr. Edness said, Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Cann has initiated a review of all services within the department and staff reductions would have to be made to stay within the budget.

One job that will be cut is that of health promotion co-ordinator, currently filled by Mrs. Ivena Laurenceo.

Two pest control operator posts have also been eliminated in the environmental health department, Mr. Edness said.

And an environmental officer post has been left vacant after a retirement.

But there was no intention of cutting staff in the Child Development Programme, Mr. Edness said.

Calling the programme the best mechanism against drug and alcohol abuse and other social problems youth face, he said: "I think it is a tremendous investment in the future of Bermuda''.

The Happy Valley Day Care Centre, which is also aimed at saving children potentially at risk, will have one staff post reduced.

But Mr. Edness said he did not expect this to adversely effect the programme.

Programmes for the aged and handicapped have included some recommendations from the report on the elderly, he said.

But more of the recommendations needed to be implemented because Bermuda's elderly population was growing rapidly.

Family Services will only have one temporary post cut, Mr. Edness said.

And, he added, "in spite of its workload and sometimes limited resources, this programme has responded quickly to reports of child abuse and neglect.'' Discussing residential care, Mr. Edness revealed that "no child will be sent to the co-ed facility'' in St. George's, unless in exceptional circumstances.

He said residential care services in Bermuda were going through a transition, as in other parts of the world.

Noting that children in residential care facilities, such as Brangman Home and the Youth Development Centre, usually have drug, alcohol or severe behavioural problems, Mr. Edness said: "Our mission is to turn this phenomenon that is happening in our society, and others, around''.

Mr. Edness said there was also the need to break the cycle of children having children.

He promised that the residential care programme would receive Government's "full attention'' in the coming fiscal year.

Mr. Edness also promised to give further attention to the Legal Aid system.

He noted that the Tumim report and others had suggested having legal aid available prior to a person being charged.

A decision will be announced later this year, he said.

Mr. Edness praised Probation Services for its efforts.

And he said while a post in that area was reduced because of retirement, he was sure it would be replaced in the future.

Mr. Edness also praised the Salvation Army and called it Bermuda's "unofficial'' agency for the homeless.

Generous with praises, Mr. Edness also complimented the Bermuda Hospitals Board for coming up with schemes that will reduce expenditure while benefiting the community.

He singled out the new independent group homes for St. Brendan's patients as an example of this.

The closure of Hinson ward and plans to merge Adams and Somers wards would save the hospital more than $1.7 million a year, he added.

King Edward has also taken cost-cutting measures, Mr. Edness pointed out.

There was a freeze on the salaries of senior management and contract senior medical staff, he said. And 12 beds have been cut.

He said hospital stays have also been reduced where necessary.

Noting that public confidence in the King Edward had be shaken after the outcome of two recent inquests, Mr. Edness said the hospital did not take a defensive position, but looked at how it could prevent such things from happening in the future.

And he said: "I believe that the measures taken will restore confidence in the hospital. I'm confident that that confidence will return''.

The Minister also said he was confident that the new prison, to be completed later this year, will meet the needs for which it is being built -- to develop rehabilitation within the prison and provide safer conditions for prison officers.

Shadow Health, Social Services and Housing Minister Mr. Nelson Bascome questioned Government's commitment to the homeless.

He said as the number of homeless increased, the number of single-room occupancy buildings, such as the Canadian Hotel and old Pickle Barrel, had decreased.

And he said while Housing Corporation evictions had declined, some are still taking place.

"When an individual has been evicted by the Housing Corporation, where else can they go?'' he asked.

He said Government should be working to make sure people on social assistance learn to improve their chances of becoming independent.

"These people cannot only help themselves, but help the Housing Corporation by moving on,'' he said.

Mr. Bascome also asked Mr. Edness to consider implementing parenting programmes, particularly for those on social assistance.

He said there had also been a steady decline in manpower and budget cuts in areas, such as Social Services and Probation Services, that need staff and money most.

Noting a case in which a teenager became ill after receiving birth control pills from the clinic, Mr. Bascome said this should "set off alarms for parents''.

He said he shared the concerns of the girl's father who questioned whether she received proper counselling.

Mr. Bascome said with teens becoming more sexually active, Government could not afford to cut back on health education and counselling.

And he questioned the motive behind cutting the health promotion co-ordinator's post.

He recalled that when it was first established and filled by another civil servant, he "felt it was a political appointment'' and nothing much was done by the person filling it then.

"Mrs. Laurenceo, who now has the position, has performed a stellar performance, and now the position is being cut.'' Mr. Bascome also chastised the Minister for cuts to YHED which provides education for pregnant teens, the Health Department, and the prison.

He also noted that Mr. Edness failed to provide funding for the Physical Abuse Centre and to mention the plight of single mothers and drug testing.

But the Hon. Mrs. Ann Cartwright DeCouto (UBP) defended Mr. Edness.

She said naturally he was unable to cover "the waterfront'' of every area.

But she stressed that she was in favour of mandatory, random drug testing for those in jobs where "someone holds another's health and safety in their hands''.

Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto said she also supported the Health Department giving birth control pills to "sexually active'' girls. And she said they received adequate counselling, particularly about safe sex and the danger of transferring the AIDS virus.

"It would be a massive setback if we were to be such a puritan bunch up here and said birth control pills could not be provided,'' she said.

Ministry of Health, Social Services and Housing, 1993/4 estimates *** Ministry objective: To promote and maintain the physical, mental and social well-being of the people of Bermuda.

Budget estimate $83,384,000 (last year $80,744,000) Budget allocations Ministry of Health, Social Services HQ $606,000 Health Department $10,167,000 Social Services Department $14,900,000 Hospitals $41,260,000 Prisons & Senior Training Schools $10,864,000 Bermuda Housing Corporation $5,587,000.