Bridgetown, Barbados, 12 August 2024 (PAHO) - Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries are vulnerable to natural disasters, especially during the hurricane season, with risks intensifying due to climate change and human-induced hazards.
To address this regional challenge, the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) joined forces to protect our people in a meaningful way. The accompanying documentary ‘Beyond Borders: The Barbados Defence Force Field Medical Hospital’, highlights what is a Field Medical Hospital, why there is a need for such a facility, how the hospital is funded, how it functions and more.
A mobile hospital is a small hospital or health facility furnished with full medical equipment which can be easily moved and set up in different locations. This field hospital can be deployed when either the country’s main health facilities are not fully functional, or when there is a need to swiftly deploy medical capacity either to compliment the main health facility or in areas that would not have easy access to the main health facility.
In 2019, Regional Advisor of the Health Emergency Medical Team (EMT) at PAHO and the World Health Organization (WHO), Luis de la Fuente Martin, led a verification team to Barbados. Following a successful verification, the BDF became the first military emergency medical team in the western hemisphere, and its emergency medical team was recommended for the designation of Type One status.
Areas of collaboration between the BDF and PAHO included classification and achievement of minimum standards for EMTs; training and capacity building of BDF personnel; supporting the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs); the procurement of equipment; and mentorship.
When the field medical hospital became operational in 2023, PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries, Dr Amalia Del Riego toured the facility and had this to say.
“PAHO/WHO is very pleased to have partnered with the BDF in support of establishing this impressive facility. It is reassuring to know that this infrastructure is available to respond to emergencies in any part of the region in the shortest possible time. Our organizations have had a long history of collaboration, and we look forward to continuing this partnership.”
The hospital comprises registration, triage, an operating theatre, x-ray, antenatal clinic, obstetrics, delivery room, separate wards for male, females and children, and the pharmacy.
The reclassification of the mobile hospital is approaching, a task which is undertaken every five years and PAHO is supporting the process. Additionally, the BDF is seeking to complete their Type Two accreditation to become a general hospital.
The BDF Field Medical Hospital comprises full time and reserve officers and volunteer civilians, totaling 262 volunteers.
Journey with the BDF and PAHO and take a virtual tour of the Barbados Defense Force Field Medical Hospital, to learn how this fascinating facility evolved from idea to reality. Witness first-hand accounts from:
- BDF’s Major David Clarke, Medical Liaison Officer and lead of the Field Medical Hospital
- Colonel (retired) Florence Gittens
- Second in command Lt. Rudolph Morris
- Radiographer Capt. Susan Sookoo
- Chief Nurse Capt. Jenny Williams
- Surgical Lead Capt. Dr. Ayana Critchlow
- Operating room (OR) team lead Capt. Carolanne Thompson-Gaskin
- Team leader for WASH Lt. Gregory Thompson
- Lead pharmacist Capt. David Lewis
- Morgue unit lead Capt. Dr. Adanna Grandison
- Medical laboratory lead Dr. Tricia Boyce
- Central Sterilisation Department lead, Jasper Jerome Blades
- The PAHO team
