ST JAMES, Jamaica — Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton, has hailed the setup of the Barbados Field Hospital now standing on the grounds of the Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital in Westmoreland, describing it as a crucial boost to healthcare delivery in the parish.
The temporary facility, spearheaded by the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) Emergency Medical Team (EMT) under the command of Lieutenant Commander Anderson Goodridge, was erected in close partnership with the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF). Dr Tufton says the unit is expected to be fully operational within the coming week.
Staffed by more than 60 medical professionals, the field hospital comes equipped with operating theatres, intensive care units, staff accommodations, food services, independent power generation, water systems, and waste disposal infrastructure — effectively making it a self-contained medical centre.
“As a positive aspect of our otherwise tragic circumstances, the collaboration that has been established… is about helping the citizens of our communities who have been impacted. This is what this facility will do,” Dr Tufton said during his visit on Friday, November 28.
Senior Medical Officer at the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital, Dr Suman Vemu, described the field unit as a major relief for the overburdened hospital, which is currently operating under pressure due to ongoing upgrades.
“Facilities like this allow us to provide uninterrupted medical care and also give much-needed rest to our staff, many of whom have been struggling to balance work and personal responsibilities,” Dr Vemu shared, expressing gratitude for the support.
Clinical Medical Director of the BDF team, Dr Ayana Crichlow, said her team is honoured to assist Jamaica during this period of recovery.
“We’re happy to assist our brothers and sisters of Jamaica. We have already worked out rosters with Dr Vemu, the emergency consultants, and the surgical team to manage patient flow and inpatient flow safely,” she noted.
Meanwhile, Dr Tufton reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to fully expanding and modernising the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital. He revealed that architectural plans are completed and costings have been submitted.
“We are in the final stages of advertising for the procurement of the new Accident and Emergency wing. We anticipate that this will go to market soon, certainly before the end of the year. We remain focused on delivering the upgrade the parish needs,” Tufton said.
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