Ministerial Assistant in the Ministry of Health, Evans McNeil Rogers, gave a report pertaining to certain aspects of health during the last Government Press Conference on Monday, September 15th.
He said that the Princess Alexandra Hospital is being upgraded to accommodate new modernized equipment. He thanked the benefactors for their contribution of US$500,000 for the mammography equipment for the Radiology Department. He also mentioned that the Ministry of Health is pursuing the purchase of an ultrasound machine.
“This ultrasound machine is an up-to-date modernized piece of equipment that would be compatible with the other technologies that we already have. We are also looking to obtain a Computed Radiography (CR) machine, and orthopedic equipment. We will be, in the short term, also retrofitting the operating theatre that has been vacant in the hospital since the expansion of the facility, but which has never been used.”
He said that once it is retrofitted, the theatre would be used for the orthopedic work that is intended to start. “And in the event that the main theatre goes down,” he said, “we would be able to use the one that would be retrofitted.”
He explained that the operating theatre will be used for ophthalmology and orthopedic surgeries while the main theatre will be used for emergencies.
Mr. Rogers also thanked the Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) for its generous contribution of a new oxygen generating plant.
“I thank the OECS for its gracious, generous sponsorship of a new oxygen generating plant for Anguilla’s hospital,” he stated. “The equipment is on island and the manufacturers should be soon coming in to set it up and test it. This will allow us to produce 100 tanks of oxygen at a time, whereas now we can only carry ten with the small plant that we have. With this new oxygen plant, we can expand the oxygen supply at the hospital.”
He said that the possibility of running piped oxygen through the hospital is being looked into, so that oxygen would be conveniently available in the event of emergencies.
In terms of human resources, Mr. Rogers said: “Healthcare has changed and I am encouraging general practitioners to go into a specialized area of health. Government will be assisting you in providing scholarships.”
He mentioned that a team from the Ministry of Health will soon be visiting the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School to recruit students who would be interested in the healthcare profession. “Government will provide the necessary support,” he said once again.
Meanwhile, Reniqua Proctor has been awarded a 2025 Government of Anguilla Scholarship and has left the island to pursue a Bachelor of Science Degree in General Nursing in Barbados. Ms. Proctor, who is set to graduate from the Anguilla Community College Certified Nursing Assistant Programme will spend the next four years engaged in her studies. Her scholarship is part of the Government’s commitment to strengthen the healthcare workforce, highlighting the importance of building a skilled nursing team to meet the island’s growing needs.
Mr. Rogers referred to two other nurses who are also undertaking healthcare studies overseas. One of these is in the UK and the other is attending the Community College in Barbados, which is affiliated with the Queen Elizabeth Hospital there.
Further, he mentioned that there are two Nursing Assistants in Jamaica who are being trained in the specialty of foot care and wound care for diabetic patients.
Mr. Rogers admitted that there might be some persons who would say: “why make such investments in the current hospital when there is talk about constructing a new one.” “Well, for the new hospital we will be drawing up design plans and making the necessary preparations which will take some time. But still we have to make provisions that are necessary at this current facility.”
