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By Eulana Weekes
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN): The Ministry of Health of the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) welcomes the arrival of two field hospitals sent by the United States Government through the Southern Command Humanitarian Assistance Program.
Part of the unit was set up on the front lawn of Alexandra Hospital on August 22, 2024, as a collaborative exercise between the Ministry of Health and the Nevis Disaster Management Authority.
The Nevis Department of Health Promotion explained that the joint exercise is aimed at enhancing the country’s response capabilities to emergency situations.
Field hospitals are equipped with resources that can help provide immediate and effective medical care to patients. Likewise, they can serve as backup facilities if the main hospital is affected for any reason.
The donation of the field hospital comes at an opportune time as the hurricane season is approaching, with forecasters predicting the potential for dangerous weather systems. The example of Hurricane Beryl, which hit the Grenadines, Carriacou and Petite Martinique, shows how important a field hospital can be to a country facing a major disaster.
The field hospitals come as health officials and hygienists around the world are asked to monitor monkeypox following a global health alert from the World Health Organization. Like COVID-19, monkeypox is contagious and could overwhelm healthcare facilities if it gets out of control.
In October 2021, SOUTHCOM donated a field hospital to Nevis to assist with the COVID-19 response. This is one of two hospitals donated to the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Following the initial donation, authorities held a training session for first responders and administrative health officials on how to set up, dismantle and store a field hospital ahead of deployment.
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