The retrofitted Barrouallie Clinic has been rebranded the “Barrouallie Smart Health Centre”, after a period of reorganisation to better cater to the needs of patients and nurses in the town and its surroundings.
It saw improvement to the general structure of the building; upgrade to the roof to improve wind resistance and air flow to the building; new epoxy grade flooring; upgrade to walkways and external drainage; bathroom; generator room; stand by generator; installation of electrical hurricane shutters; installation of ramps and rails to facilitate wheelchair assistance; installation of emergency lighting; installation of a VHF radio for emergency; installation of solar power system; installation of fire alarm system; water tank installation; and installation of solar water system.
The upgraded health centre was handed over to the Ministry of Health following a ceremony last Friday at the centre.
The ceremony heard remarks from Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, Area Representative Dr. Orande Brewster, Minister of Health St. Clair Prince and representatives of contributors to the refurbishment, YitadesGibre representing PAHO/WHO and Michael Knights, representing Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) formerly called the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID).
Gonsalves warned citizens to pay closer attention to their health saying that instances of diabetes and hypertension are on the rise and though the health system is equipped with the necessary equipment to monitor and check these lifestyle diseases, citizens must watch the food they consume and have regular checks done for safety.
He said that the country is now the centre of critical paediatric care in the Eastern Caribbean as result of a partnership with the World Pediatric Project. He further added, that St. Vincent and the Grenadines would soon boast of a centre of a West Indian neurosurgical base.
Meanwhile, Brewster, said his government’s undertaking in health care with the implementation of smart hospitals and smart clinics across the country has revolutionise health care and create decentralisation of services provided by health facilities.
The Central Leeward MP urged the residence to take care of and cherish the facility while maximising the services it offers.
He donated of a 50-inch smart television to complement the smart health centre.
And, Prince urge residents to make maximum use of the facility, noting that a maternity suite was added.
The health minister said that one of the major principles to the renovation of the health facilities across the country is to add living quarters for nurses to ensure service can be provided more frequently as the nurses are more easily accessible and available.
He said there are 16 other clinics being refurbished in an effort to provide comfortable health care to all citizens.
Meanwhile, Knights said that SVG was the pioneer and pilot for the smart hospital approach.
He said the country has provided real time evidence of the benefits of the programme.
PAHO/WHO Representative YitadesGibre thanked Gonsalves and Prince for allowing PAHO/WHO to be contributors of the smart health care developments throughout the country in an effort to ensure greener and safer health care.