Residents of the Canaries community will need to adjust their primary healthcare access plans for the coming fortnight, as the local Canaries Wellness Centre is set to shut down for critical infrastructure rehabilitation starting this Monday.
According to an official announcement from Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Health, Wellness and Nutrition, the facility will remain closed from June 1 through June 12 to accommodate targeted upgrade works carried out under the OECS Regional Health Project, a development initiative backed by financing from the World Bank. Standard healthcare operations at the centre are scheduled to resume on June 15 following the completion of the rehabilitation.
To avoid disruptions to routine care for local residents, all primary health services that are typically offered at the Canaries location will be temporarily relocated to the nearby Anse La Raye Wellness Centre for the duration of the closure. Importantly, the ministry has confirmed that scheduled home visits and community outreach programs serving Canaries residents will continue operating without interruption throughout the two-week period. This measure is designed to ensure that vulnerable patients with ongoing care needs do not lose access to critical support services.
To ease the burden of traveling to the alternate facility, the government has arranged free shuttle transportation for Canaries residents. The service departs from the Canaries bus stop located adjacent to the Canaries Infant School, with fixed departure times: 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on both Mondays and Fridays, and a single 7:30 a.m. departure on Tuesdays.
Additionally, the ministry has published a clarified clinic schedule for the Anse La Raye Wellness Centre to help patients plan their visits during the temporary transition. Under the adjusted schedule, general medical clinics alongside specialized care for diabetes and hypertension will run on Mondays, child health services will be held every Tuesday, and additional general medical clinics will operate on Fridays.