CASTRIES, St.Lucia, CMC – A planned upgrade of the St. Lucia health systems, made possible through a US$9.86 million loan from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB), will begin shortly following a launch here on Thursday.
Nearly US$2 million will be utilized for purchasing critical medical equipment such as ventilators, x-ray machines, ultrasound devices, and dental, neonatal, and eye care equipment.
The benefiting health facilities include La Ressource Wellness Centre, Castries Urban Centre, Dennery Hospital, Soufriere Hospital, Comfort Bay Home for Older Persons, St. Jude Hospital, Vieux-Fort Wellness Centre and Gros Islet Polyclinic.
Another US$3 million will be allocated for improvements at five healthcare facilities. Two facilities damaged by fire in recent years, the La Ressource Wellness Centre and the Soufriere Hospital, will be refurbished and rehabilitated. At the same time, the Comfort Bay Home for Older Persons will be retrofitted and expanded.
The Castries Urban Centre will be relocated and expanded, and a new annex will be added to the Dennery Hospital.
The financing will also facilitate capacity building for healthcare workers in critical areas, including Biomedical Equipment Technician Certification, rehabilitation and counseling, and risk communication.
The remaining funds will support training for nurses in a range of specialties, including intensive care, nephrology, neonatology, emergency care, senior care, oncology, and nursing administration, procuring supplies and pharmaceuticals, as well as providing a range of training and capacity-building solutions for health care workers.
According to CDB’s Director of Project, Therese Turner-Jones, the investment would help to position Saint Lucia to better respond to health crises strategically. “These resources will strengthen the resilience of Saint Lucia and allow citizens and health institutions to withstand unexpected challenges better now and in the future.”
The project financing was provided under the EIB Climate Action Line of Credit II – COVID-19 component.
Three countries will benefit from the US$29.8 million agreement under which the EIB aims to bolster the region’s health systems in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic with concessional financing thanks to backing from the European Union (EU).
Investing in strengthening healthcare worldwide is one of the pillars of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, in which the EIB is a crucial partner.
Ambassador Malgorzata Wasilewksa of the EU Delegation to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean States, the OECS and CARICOM/CARIFORUM, asserted that – “The EU has been a key supporter of the health sector in Saint Lucia for many years. It is important to note that standalone projects such as the Owen King-EU Hospital are one of the ways we support Saint Lucia. Supporting the health system with appropriate and suitable levels of equipment and staff for service delivery is directly aligned with our global commitment to Universal Health Coverage.”
According to the EIB Representative for Southern and Eastern Caribbean, Ms. Kristina Eisele, “The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated more than ever the importance of efficient and effective healthcare. At EIB Global, we are glad to finance new medical equipment, refurbished buildings, and specialist training in Saint Lucia, which will help to ensure people everywhere on the island receive the care they need.”
And Saint Lucia’s Minister for Health, Wellness & Elderly Affairs, Moses Jn. Baptiste said the government is committed to health care reform, “We believe that universal health coverage is achievable. We must accelerate healthcare reform and be ready for the next pandemic, not if it comes but when it comes. These activities are critical, and I look forward to implementing these projects.”
The EIB is financing similar projects in Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), which are scheduled to be launched later in February. The Grenada initiative will involve health infrastructure works, while the efforts in SVG will include strengthening the medical supply chain.
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