MINISTRY OF HEALTH, HIGHLIGHTED THE GROWING CONCERN OF WATER SHORTAGES ACROSS THE ISLAND AND URGED HEALTH OFFICIALS TO CONSIDER THE IMPLICATIONS PROLONGED DROUGHT CONDITIONS COULD HAVE ON HEALTHCARE FACILITIES
The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Nutrition recently convened its 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season Preparedness Meeting. The meeting brought together health sector leaders, Heads of Departments within the Ministry of Health and administrators from the Millennium Heights Medical Complex, St. Jude Hospital, Gros-Islet Polyclinic, Dennery Hospital and Soufriere Hospital to assess readiness for the upcoming hurricane season. Opening the session, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sharon Belmar-George welcomed the health officials and set the tone for the day’s deliberations, adding that while Saint Lucia's health response has always focused on health infrastructure and physical well-being of individuals in the aftermath of a storm, this hurricane season the Ministry of Health is making an equally urgent commitment to the mental health of those affected.
Dr. Sharon Belmar - George: Chief Medical Officer “Generally, I find we respond well to unusual circumstances. A lot of it in the past has been centered a lot on looking at the infrastructure, providing equipment, providing supplies and the mental health aspect is usually delayed. A lot of the times, it's almost an afterthought when we provide it after. This year, we included mental health as part of the planning from very early. So as part of the response, whether it be people's homes are flooded and they've lost a lot, whether there's injuries or not, we have to cater to the mental health impact that storms and disasters present.”
Minister for Health, Wellness and Nutrition, Hon. Moses Jn Baptiste highlighted the growing concern of water shortages across the island and urged health officials to consider the implications prolonged drought conditions could have on healthcare facilities and vulnerable communities.
Hon. Moses Jn Baptiste: Minister for Health, Wellness and Nutrition “Over the last few months many communities have seen situations that we've never experienced in our lifetimes. Many of us have never experienced that kind of situation. In the constituency that I represent I saw a few ravines dry in the last three weeks that I've never seen before. I mean I grew up in that area in Grace and I've never seen ravines dry. And this year I saw for the very first time a couple ravines dry with stench of dead animals and so on. There is also the other side of it, if we continue to have that water deficit, it becomes a disaster.”
Health Disaster Coordinator, Delphina Vernor, briefed attendees on the potential effects of El Niño conditions and what this could mean for Saint Lucia during the season.
Dr. Delphina Vernor: Health Disaster Coordinator “Rainfall is going to be below normal which means we’re going to have longer dry spells which we’re already experiencing. I mean other than the past week or so, we’ve been very very dry. As far as the hurricanes are concerned, we will have fewer storms, as is shown in the prediction, but again, the ferocity of the storms may be much more. And as we've said, it only takes one event. Temperatures will be warmer than normal, and that will contribute to increased heat stress.”
Health officials say the annual preparedness meeting serves as a critical checkpoint for the entire health sector ensuring that when the Atlantic hurricane season reaches its peak, Saint Lucia’s hospitals, clinics, and health units are ready to serve, protect, and respond.
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