The Barbados Defence Force launches its
Field Medical Facility Type 1
BDF Media Release | 28 JUN 18
Photography credit: Corporal Maynard D
The Barbados Defence Force has increased its capacity to respond to natural disasters through the development of a field mobile facility.
The donation came through a long-standing partnership between the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and National stakeholders.
Dr Godfrey Xuereb, PAHO and WHO representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, stated that the aim is to foster a joint effort between the Barbados Defence Force, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, PAHO and WHO, with the establishment of the first such facility in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.

Col G Grannum and Dr G Xuereb shaking hands signifying the handover of the BDF’s Field Medical Facilty

Lt Col (ret’d) Jeffrey Bostic, Minister of Health and Wellness, receiving a blood pressure test during the Field Medical Facility tour.
Deployment of the field mobile facility in the Eastern Caribbean can be done with support from partners such as CDEMA and the RSS. This will enable PAHO and other medical related partners to lend support during a disaster where either the main health facilities are not fully functional, or if there is a need to increase medical capacity at the main health facility or to deploy in areas which do not have easy access to the main health facility.
The field mobile facility is envisioned to support the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and be accredited as a Field Emergency Medical Facility (Type 1) within the PAHO/WHO system and will have logistical and standard medical requirements to treat at least 40 patients, with future expansion to include surgical procedures and additional beds.
The Barbados Defence Force is ever focused to its humanitarian assistance and disaster response commitment, while endeavoring to upgrade the current facility to a Type 2 capacity.