A deliberate improve of the Saint Lucia Well being Methods made potential via a US$9.86 million mortgage from the Caribbean Growth Financial institution (CDB), financed by the European Funding Financial institution (EIB), will start shortly following a launch in Saint Lucia immediately.
Practically US$2 million will likely be utilised for buying essential medical tools resembling ventilators, x-ray machines, ultrasound units, and dental, neonatal, and eye care tools. The benefiting well being services embody La Ressource Wellness Centre, Castries City Centre, Dennery Hospital, Soufriere Hospital, Consolation Bay Residence for Older Individuals, St. Jude Hospital, Vieux-Fort Wellness Centre and Gros Islet Polyclinic.
One other US$3 million will likely be allotted for enhancements at 5 healthcare services. Two services broken by fireplace in recent times, the La Ressource Wellness Centre and the Soufriere Hospital, will likely be refurbished and rehabilitated, whereas the Consolation Bay Residence for Older Individuals, will likely be retrofitted and expanded. The Castries City Centre will likely be relocated and expanded, and a brand new annex will likely be added to the Dennery Hospital.
The financing may also facilitate capability constructing for healthcare employees in key areas together with Biomedical Gear Technician Certification, rehabilitation and counselling, and danger communication. The remaining funds will help coaching for nurses in a spread of specialties together with intensive care, nephrology, neonatology, emergency care, geriatric care, oncology, and nursing administration, procuring provides and prescribed drugs in addition to offering a spread of coaching and capacity-building options for well being care employees.
CDB’s Director of Challenge, Therese Turner-Jones mentioned the funding would assist to strategically place Saint Lucia to higher reply to well being crises. “These sources will strengthen the resilience of Saint Lucia and permit residents and well being establishments to higher face up to surprising challenges now and sooner or later,” Turner-Jones mentioned.
The challenge financing was offered beneath the EIB Local weather Motion Line of Credit score II – COVID-19 element. In complete, three nations will profit from the US$29.8 million settlement beneath which the EIB goals to bolster the area’s well being methods within the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic with concessional financing because of backing from the European Union (EU). Investing to strengthen healthcare world wide is likely one of the pillars of the EU’s World Gateway technique, by which the EIB is a key associate.
Ambassador Malgorzata Wasilewksa of the EU Delegation to Barbados and the Jap Caribbean States, the OECS and CARICOM/CARIFORUM, asserted, “The EU has been a key supporter of the well being sector in Saint Lucia for a few years. You will need to observe that standalone tasks such because the Owen King-EU Hospital are one of many methods we help Saint Lucia. Supporting the well being system with applicable and appropriate ranges of kit and workers for service supply is immediately aligned with our international dedication to Common Well being Protection.”
EIB Consultant for Southern and Jap Caribbean, Kristina Eisele, mentioned, “The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated greater than ever the significance of environment friendly and efficient healthcare. At EIB World we’re glad to finance new medical tools, refurbished buildings and specialist coaching in Saint Lucia, which is able to assist to make sure folks all over the place on the island obtain the care they want.”
Saint Lucia’s Minister for Well being, Wellness & Aged Affairs, Moses Jn. Baptiste mentioned the federal government is dedicated to well being care reform, “We consider that common well being protection is achievable. We see that we should speed up well being care reform and we have to be prepared for the subsequent pandemic, not if it comes however when it comes. All of those actions are essential, and I sit up for the implementation of those tasks,” mentioned Jn. Baptiste.
The EIB is financing related tasks in Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) scheduled to be launched later in February. The Grenada initiative will contain well being infrastructural works whereas the efforts in SVG will embody strengthening the medical provide chain.
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