Technical teams have been busy ensuring that equipment is correctly placed within the respective departments.

Activity has intensified at the Owen King EU Hospital with the arrival and installation of state-of-the-art equipment and furniture.

Up to six containers were recently unloaded on the grounds of the hospital, with up to 15 more containers from five contractors scheduled to arrive on island in the coming weeks.  

"All the cupboards and everything that has to be hung on the walls has arrived. All the tools for the maintenance team have also arrived, and over the next few  weeks we will also receive clinical furniture, surgical tables, delivery beds, hospital beds as well as specialized equipment. We will also receive EMT and ophthalmology equipment next month.," Claudio Meirovich, Technical Assistance Supervisor, said.

"Right now it's a very interesting time because everything is coming in, we're starting to install things, and we're starting to move really fast."

Meirovich explained that preparatory work such as the testing of medical gases and water lines which are required for some of the medical equipment will also be completed in coming weeks.

"We have been working on this for the past five years. It's been a long time and we had several challenges but we can see light at the end of the tunnel already."

Project Engineer at the hospital, Wendell Bernard said technical teams have been busy ensuring that the equipment is correctly placed within the respective departments  in the massive facility, while taking care that minimal damage is done.

"Walls will be scratched as you move with equipment and boxes about the place. So on a daily basis the maintenance team monitors the contractors moving the equipment and helps to coordinate things to keep many of these issues to a minimum. We've been telling them to protect our floors, protect our walls, and keep doors opened so we won't get pallet jacks and trolleys jamming into doors," Bernard said.

The EU hospital is expected to be opened later this year. As Saint Lucia eagerly awaits the official opening, detailed planning, procuring, installing, testing, and training has been ongoing at the facility.