JAMAICA — A significant bilateral healthcare initiative has been launched in Westmoreland with the official establishment of a state-of-the-art field hospital by the Barbados Defence Force. Situated on the grounds of the Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital, this temporary medical facility represents a cornerstone of regional cooperation aimed at addressing critical healthcare demands.
Under the strategic direction of Lieutenant Commander Anderson Goodridge, the Barbados Defence Force Emergency Medical Team (EMT) executed the deployment in close coordination with the Jamaica Defence Force. This fully-equipped medical compound features comprehensive clinical capabilities including advanced operating theaters, intensive care units, and dedicated staff accommodation facilities. The infrastructure further incorporates self-sufficient systems for power generation, water management, and waste disposal, ensuring complete operational independence.
Jamaica’s Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Christopher Tufton, characterized the collaboration as “a positive aspect of our otherwise tragic circumstances,” emphasizing that the facility will directly assist communities impacted by healthcare accessibility challenges. During his inspection visit on November 28th, the minister highlighted the strategic importance of this temporary solution while permanent hospital upgrades progress.
Dr. Suman Vemu, Senior Medical Officer at Savanna-La-Mar Hospital, confirmed the field hospital will substantially enhance service delivery capacity. “Facilities like this allow us to provide uninterrupted medical care while granting much-needed respite to our staff,” Dr. Vemu stated, acknowledging the psychological and operational burden on healthcare professionals balancing extreme workloads.
The clinical operations are being managed through integrated rostering systems developed between Barbadian and Jamaican medical directors. Dr. Ayana Crichlow, Clinical Medical Director of the BDF team, emphasized their commitment: “We’re happy to assist our brothers and sisters of Jamaica. We have established coordinated patient flow management systems with local emergency consultants and surgical teams.”
Concurrently, Minister Tufton reaffirmed government commitments to the permanent hospital expansion, confirming completed architectural designs and finalized cost assessments. Procurement processes for the new Accident and Emergency wing are advancing, with tender advertisements expected before year-end according to official timelines.