Following a fire that destroyed St. Jude Hospital in St. Lucia, International Medical Corps set up a temporary medical facility at the George Odlum National Sports Stadium. The fire, which destroyed the top floor surgical ward, also caused extensive water damage to the laboratory and pediatric ward located on the floor below.
Through funding from Hess Corporation, International Medical Corps began rehabilitating the damaged hospital, which served approximately 66,000, and implementing the interim medical ward. In addition to equipping the temporary facility with donated medicines, supplies and critical equipment, International Medical Corps is also training hospital staff to build their local capacity. The facility currently holds 24 beds, an operating room for urgent cases, and an emergency room.
During a sod turning ceremony for the reconstruction of St. Jude Hospital, the keynote speaker, the Honorable Prime Minister Stephenson King stated of International Medical Corps and Hess: “They have been steadfast in their commitment, have provided many pieces of equipment, countless medical supplies and have even provided personnel expertise on site to train staff and even work directly with us. Their assistance and support has been beyond our imagination.”
In addition to providing Continuing Medical Education, including lectures from volunteer physicians, International Medical Corps will also open two additional surgical theatre labs at the temporary location and increase capacity to more than 60 beds. The organization is also working with local staff to ensure that appropriate equipment and software is purchased to support the facility’s pharmacy.