It is a matter of national pride these days to visit the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Anguilla which has been substantially refurbished following the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma in September 2017. With new, extended and well-equipped wards for men, women and children in its care, the hospital is a place of improved health services, comfort and beauty for patients – and an attractive environment for its workers.
The full extent of the refurbishing, and new look, at the hospital came into focus with the reopening of the wards on Thursday, November 22. It was an event attended by Government officials, donors, suppliers, contractors, staff members and other invited guests.
The Minister of Health and Social Development, Mr. Evans McNiel Rogers, known for his passion for, and commitment to, healthcare, devoted much of his address to thanking all who assisted with the upgrading of the hospital and its equipment. Among those he thanked were the British Government, the British taxpayers and the Governor’s Office for funds and generating equipment; Mrs. Blondel Cluff, the Government’s UK and European Representative in London who raised funds for the new maternity wing which now bears her name; Mr. and Mrs. Gary Sharp of Naples, Florida, both residents of Anguilla, who funded various pieces of equipment; and several local business places including Lake’s Hardware, ABC Supplies and Anguilla Trading Company which supplied materials on credit for the restoration of the hospital – following Hurricane Irma.
Speaking about her involvement in the hospital, Mrs. Cluff said she was very sorry to have heard about the damage sustained by the hospital from Hurricane Irma and she was greatly honoured to make a contribution. Mrs. Cluff, who was born of Anguillian parentage in England, continued: “Twenty years ago a maternity ward saved my life because I suffered from a very complicated atopic pregnancy but despite that, and despite the ups and downs that I have personally had with hospitals, I have to say that maternity wards are indeed the happiest places that I have ever been involved with.
“Despite the beauty of our nation, Anguilla, and the nobility of our people, we are very proud of our 33 beaches and our beautiful vistas, but it is this place (the maternity wing she funded) that is the true place of beauty because it is here that future Anguillians will be born. On behalf the West India Committee and our wonderful supporters, and my staff including Charlie Wheeler who has joined me on this trip…,I thank you all for the opportunity to serve Anguilla in this way. It is an honour, and I have to say a huge congratulation to each of you who have made this facility happen – and in particular to the Health Authority of Anguilla which has made this dream a reality.”
Governor Tim Foy described the restoration of the hospital as “a total transformation” compared to its appearance in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma when he pledged that he would “fix it”. He expressed appreciation to the staff of the hospital for their dedication to duty and he paid special tribute to Mr. Rogers, the Minister of Health, who was always at the hospital when he visited there to see the progress of the restoration work. The Governor also thanked his staff who worked long hours to secure the necessary funding for the hospital project as well as the Department for International Development in London for its assistance.
He recognized that a lot more work needed to be done on the hospital -and in 2019 on the next phase of the development of the island’s health facilities including The Valley Polyclinic, the West End Clinic and the Welches Polyclinic. He also took the opportunity to mention the work to take place on the educational facilities, particularly the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, and on port development at Blowing Point.
Governor Foy, speaking about the partnership between Anguilla and the United Kingdom, said there was “a conscious desire for all of us to make a difference in a relationship which is based not just on history, but mutual respect; on mutual knowledge of what is important; and a shared desire to make things better for the people of Anguilla.”
The highlight of the reopening of the wards was the cutting of the ribbon to the Cluff Maternity Wing by Mrs. Blondel Cluff; the Minister of Health, Mr. Rogers; and Nurse Serene Carter-Davis.
The reopening ceremony was chaired by Mr. Foster Rogers, Permanent Secretary, Health, and the Vote of Thanks was delivered by Mrs. Demis-Adams.
