In a historic first for cancer care in Barbados, the Barbados Association for Cancer Advocacy (BACA) and local pharmaceutical manufacturer Aventa Barbados – formerly Collins Limited – have formalized a landmark collaboration aimed at elevating patient support, expanding public education, accelerating cancer research, and moving forward long-held plans for a purpose-built end-of-life hospice in Coverley, Christ Church.
The partnership, signed during an official public ceremony on Wednesday, marks the first time a local cancer charity has joined forces with a pharmaceutical company to address the full spectrum of cancer care, patient advocacy, and community education across the island. The agreement comes as Barbados grapples with a rapidly growing cancer burden that has stretched the country’s public health system, straining operational budgets and limiting critical bed capacity at the island’s main public care facility, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
At the heart of BACA’s long-term strategic vision is the construction of a standalone, community-integrated hospice for late-stage cancer patients. The Barbadian government has already allocated land for the project, and full town planning approval has been secured, clearing the way for construction to begin once sufficient capital is raised. Designed to embed end-of-life care within a community-focused framework, the future facility will be surrounded by agricultural green space that will support a farm-to-table nutrition program for patients staying at the hospice.
BACA chair Jessica Odle-Baril, an 18-month cancer survivor, emphasized that the dedicated facility will fill a critical gap in the island’s current healthcare system. “Right now, general hospitals do not offer the tailored environment people need to spend their final days with dignity,” Odle-Baril explained. “A freestanding hospice will fill this gap by providing specialized end-of-life care that includes palliative treatment, pain management, optional spiritual counseling, and space for family members to stay close to their loved ones – accommodations that are rarely available in busy general hospital wards.”
While regulatory approval for the project is complete, Odle-Baril noted that securing the large capital investment required for construction remains BACA’s top immediate priority. “I have no shame in advocating for a cause this critical,” she said. “Death is an inevitable part of life, and we owe it to our community to be prepared for it. This memorandum of understanding strengthens our ability to advocate for the hospice and drive the fundraising efforts we need to make this facility a reality.”
Unlike traditional corporate philanthropic partnerships, Aventa Barbados will not contribute direct capital to the hospice construction project. Instead, the company will serve as an operational partner, bringing its industry expertise to advance the partnership’s core goals: expanding cancer research, delivering evidence-based public education, documenting the lived experiences of local cancer survivors, and identifying unmet needs across the entire patient care continuum.
Karla Kellman, Aventa Barbados’ Access and Medical Marketing Manager, stressed that cross-sector collaboration between private companies and local charitable groups is essential to improving cancer outcomes across the island. “We recognize the unique struggles and pain that cancer patients and their families go through, but progress cannot happen if organizations work in silos,” Kellman said. “This partnership goes beyond just raising general awareness – we want to understand the specific barriers each patient faces. Where are the gaps in accessing appropriate treatment? Where are the delays in getting timely care? The insights we gather from our survivor network can inform better practices for physicians, pharmaceutical companies, suppliers, and other charities across the country.”
Sharon Boxill, Key Account Manager for global pharmaceutical firm Novartis in Barbados, added that the collaboration will address all stages of cancer care, not just end-of-life support. “Cancer care requires a holistic approach that engages every stakeholder from the moment of diagnosis,” Boxill said. “This partnership will give us a comprehensive view of a patient’s entire journey, from the day they receive their diagnosis through their treatment and into end-of-life care. If we can shorten wait times or streamline the care process to make it less stressful for patients, that is our ultimate goal. No patient should have to face cancer alone.”
Beyond clinical treatment, the partnership will also address the often-overlooked secondary impacts of cancer therapy, including psychological distress and common physical side effects such as hair loss, chronic joint pain, and reduced mobility, all of which require targeted support services.
To implement the terms of the agreement, a joint steering committee with equal representation from BACA and Aventa Barbados will be launched immediately. The committee will develop a formal roadmap for rolling out community education programs, expanding patient support pathways, and leading national advocacy campaigns. Both signatories expressed hope that their partnership will set a precedent for broader private sector engagement in addressing public health challenges across Barbados, ultimately improving outcomes for cancer patients and their families across the island.