Caritas Antilles donates medical supplies

ST LUCIA

Caritas Antilles has donated approximately EC$200,000 worth of medical supplies to the Millennium Heights Medical Complex in St Lucia, including the Owen King EU Hospital (OKEU), in a move aimed at strengthening healthcare services and supporting vulnerable communities.

The donation includes essential items such as 1,000 non-surgical gowns, 18,200 ear-loop masks, 15,000 syringes, 5,000 barrier gowns, and 3 gaylords [large, corrugated cardboard box used for shipping bulk materials on pallets] of assorted medical supplies. The shipment was made possible through Caritas Antilles’ long-standing partnership with Food For The Poor.

Caritas Antilles, the social action agency of the Roman Catholic Church in the Caribbean, works across the Caribbean to support communities through humanitarian response, social programmes and partnerships that promote human dignity and solidarity.

According to the organisation, via a release March 19, the supplies will assist “frontline healthcare professionals and strengthen the capacity of the hospital to provide essential services to the population, particularly those who are poor and vulnerable.”

Caritas Antilles has facilitated similar donations to St Lucia’s health sector for several years, working with international humanitarian organisations. These contributions, the release said, “have played an important role in strengthening healthcare delivery and ensuring that essential supplies reach those most in need.”

Regional Director of Caritas Antilles, Marcia Haywood, reaffirmed that the organisation remains “committed” to supporting the health and well-being of  communities across the region.

“Caritas Antilles is guided by the mission of the Catholic Church to serve all of God’s children, particularly the poor, the vulnerable, and those most in need. Through partnerships such as Food For The Poor, we are grateful to continue supporting the health sector in St Lucia and contributing to the care and dignity of those who depend on these services,” she said.

The organisation said it remains committed to ongoing collaboration with healthcare providers and partners in St Lucia, as it continues efforts to support both the health system and wider society.