Public Invited to Community Town Hall on QEH Waste Management Upgrades

Bridgetown, Tuesday, March 24. The Ministry of Health and Wellness (MHW), the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) invite the general public, residents, and members of the business community located in the environs of the hospital to participate in a Community Town Hall to be held Thursday, March 26 at Queen’s Park at 5:00 p.m.

The meeting aims to share information about the hospital’s initiatives to improve the incinerator and waste management system, while also providing an opportunity for the community to raise concerns, comments and questions on the topic.

During the session, the QEH and UNOPS will present an overview of the progress of the project  which will include the comprehensive improvement of the Waste Management System, the construction of a new facility for the treatment of healthcare waste, and the introduction of specialized new equipment. These improvements will significantly reduce emissions generated by the current installations and align the hospital with international public health and environmental management standards approved by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“The Ministry of Health and Wellness remains committed to improving healthcare infrastructure while safeguarding public health and the environment. We value the input of residents and stakeholders and this town hall represents an important step in ensuring that community voices help inform the development and implementation of these critical improvements”, indicates Mr. Wayne F. Webster, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Wellness.

The event will also mark the beginning of the community dialogue process as part of the project’s environmental and social impact assessment, a key stage aimed at gathering information from the community. Contributions from residents and local stakeholders will help inform the technical analysis and support decision-making regarding the planned improvements.

“The QEH is eager to share plans for upgrade to enhance its environmental footprint to the benefit of nearby residents and Barbados as a whole”, says Neil Clark, CEO of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

The Community Town Hall is designed as an open space for information and participation, where the general public, residents, and members of the business community located in the surrounding areas of the hospital and other interested stakeholders will have the opportunity to learn more about the project, ask questions and share their perspectives.

These improvements form part of the project “Implementation Support for the Strengthening and Improvement of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital” led by the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the QEH, which seeks to modernize key areas of the hospital’s infrastructure and services. The project has a total budget of 16.98 million US dollars, financed through the broader 60 million Euros (64.2 million US dollars) loan agreement between the Government of Barbados and the European Investment Bank (EIB), aimed at supporting strategic investments at the hospital.

In coordination with the MHW and the QEH, UNOPS is providing specialized technical support for the rehabilitation of critical hospital areas, including the waste management system, the morgue and the workshop. UNOPS also leads the procurement of new medical and technological equipment, applying international standards of sustainability, efficiency and transparency.

Community Town Hall

📍Location: Daphne Joseph-Hackett Theatre, Queen’s Park House, Queen’s Park St. Michael
📅Date: Thursday, March 26
🕒Time: 5:00 p.m.- 7 p.m.

👥Open to general public