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Contact:
Chris Satney
Monday, November 8, 2004 – A team from the University Hospital Complex of
Martinique was on in St. Lucia last week, meeting with local health officials
and other stakeholders involved the construction of the new hospital.
The team shared its experience with St. Lucia, with a view to assisting the
island in the development of a new general hospital and its health sector in
general.
The new general hospital for St. Lucia is still in its design stage, but as the
pictures become clearer, stakeholders are ensuring that the health sector is
prepared for implementation well ahead of the hospital’s completion in some 4 to
5 years.
The discussion with the La Menard Hospital was spearheaded by the National
Authorizing Office of the European Development Fund. National Authorising
Officer, Wilfred Pierre said the island would receive much needed assistance in
medical information technology, telemedicine and bio-medical technology.
Explaining further, Mr. Pierre said, “That is the equipment for the hospital to
really do evaluation, and suggest to us the best type of equipment to get. They
are also looking to provide us with assistance, in terms of human resource
development, training for our health practitioners, such as nurses in the most
recent techniques”.
St. Lucians, for many years have travelled to Martinique for medical services.
But this is expected to change, when the island’s new hospital is commissioned
before the end of 2009. Mission Coordinator for the La Menard visit, Miss
Francois Tanic, said this would not hamper the good relationship shared between
the two countries in the area of health.
The Martinique delegation also paid a courtesy call on the Parliamentary
Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Hon. Jon Odlum, as well as engaged in a
tour of the Victoria Hospital.
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