The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, is coordinating a surgical and dental mission by the United States Military Medical Mission. This medical mission is scheduled in Saint Lucia from Wednesday, March 8, to Wednesday, March 22, 2023.
Minor surgical and dental procedures and medication shall be provided free to residents in need of the care offered. The minor surgical procedures provided include the removal of cysts and masses, hernia repair and trauma surgeries.
These procedures will be carried out at the Owen King European Hospital. Individuals interested in surgical procedures are advised to visit the Community Wellness Centres during the Medical Clinics for review and registration from January 23, 2023. All are asked to walk with their ID cards for registration.
Dental services will include extractions, fillings, caries stabilization, dental hygiene-related services/cleaning, and intraoperative extractions. These procedures will be carried out at the La Clery Wellness Centre from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm.
To ensure the required planning and coordination of this mission, individuals who wish to access these services through this mission are requested to visit their nearest Community Wellness Centre Dental Clinics for pre-registration and scheduling. This can be done from January 23, 2023. All are asked to walk with their ID cards for registration.
Other activities include Emergency Medicine Training, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Advanced Trauma Life Support training and laparoscopy training.
All visiting medical staff participating in the mission will be vetted as per legal requirements by the respective Medical and Dental, Pharmacy, Nursing and Allied Health Councils. Practitioners who satisfy the requirements for licensing and registration will be authorized to practice on this mission.
As we have done in the past with the 2019 USNS Comfort Medical Mission and other visiting health missions, our national health practitioners will be working alongside the visiting volunteers. A register of patients seen will be kept, and all cases will be referred to local health professionals as necessary for follow- up to ensure their continuity of care.
For further information on this mission, contact can be made with the Community Wellness Centres or the Office of the Chief Medical Officer at 468-5386 or the Bureau of Health Education at 468-5349.
