SPECIAL FEATURE
To redress the balance, the World Bank has led the construction of hospitals, the training of doctors, as well as the roll out of public information campaigns. The latter focus on six key steps:
Raising awareness about the causes and effects of “non-communicable” diseases
Promoting healthy lifestyles that encourage physical activity and healthy eating, while discouraging alcohol and tobacco use
The Arnos Vale Acute Care Hospital
“At the center of the Strengthening Health System Resilience Project (SHSRP) is the construction of the new Arnos Vale Acute Care Hospital: a state-of-the-art facility which is a catalyst for reforms in the health sector. The new hospital will provide services in all domains of acute hospital care including trauma care, acute care surgery, urgent care, critical care, emergency medicine, inpatient stabilization, and outpatient care. The new hospital will also offer the full range of allied health services required to support diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitative interventions. Importantly, several tertiary healthcare services, which are currently only accessible overseas, will be available at the new hospital. The 135-bed hospital will be constructed to withstand extreme weather events such Category 5 hurricanes with wind speeds in excess of 240 km/h floods, heatwaves and volcanic ash, and will incorporate eco-friendly considerations. The government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is delighted to collaborate with the OPEC Fund on construction of the new Arnos Vale Acute Care Hospital.” Marcelle Edwards-John, Deputy Director of Economic Planning, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Information Technology, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Taking personal responsibility for health, including teaching children good nutrition and active lifestyle habits
Improving access to healthcare and medical supplies, particularly in rural areas
Implementing screening programs, including regular blood pressure checks, cancer screenings and tests for diabetes
Offering healthy food at work, promoting physical activity programs and providing health insurance incentives for employees who adopt healthy lifestyles.
Adding concrete support, the OPEC Fund has contributed a US$30 million loan to build a modern acute care hospital on the main island of Saint Vincent. The investment will boost the country’s resilience by helping to guarantee continuity of healthcare during extreme weather events and other national disasters. It is also supporting capacity building in contract and financial management, environment and social safeguards, and monitoring and evaluation. This project is a game-changer for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the context of lingering healthcare emergencies amid deepening climate change.
The OPEC Fund & Saint Vincent and the Grenadines To date, the OPEC Fund has supported this island nation with five approved loans in the public sector for US$51 million. The country has also benefitted from two regional grants supporting agriculture in the Caribbean. In addition to healthcare (see panel, above right) the OPEC Fund has also supported infrastructure, education and agriculture projects.
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