Saint Lucia is part of the Interregional Caraibes CARES Project. The project serves to implement a common governance of inter-regional cooperation activities between French territories and OECS member states, to improve public health and access to health services in the Eastern Caribbean region by sharing competencies and expertise between French territories and OECS member states.

The overall project will facilitate the development of care services, the improvement of health surveillance and emergency response and the sharing of human resources among partner countries.

One of the important care channels includes strengthening the oncology program in Saint Lucia. In July, Saint Lucia received a visit from a team of specialists from France ad Martinique: Dr. Domiique Vaur, Dr. Thierry Freboug, Ms. Sarah Malsa and Dr. Odile Bera. The visit was to facilitate the set-up of Genetic Counselling Services in Saint Lucia, with the necessary technical support from Martinique and France. During the visit, training was facilitated at the Victoria Hospital and Tapion Hospital. The team also visited some of Saint Lucia’s medical institutions such as the Owen King EU Hospital, the Gros-Islet Polyclinic and the St. Jude Hospital; and met with the officials from the Ministry of Health to chart the way forward.