Smart Clinic opens in Georgetown (+Video)

The doors of the Georgetown Smart Clinic are now open to members of the public, after the clinic was closed for sometime for upgrade and transformative work.

The Smart Clinic at Chili Village, Georgetown forms part of the health complex at that location, which also includes the Georgetown Smart Hospital and the Modern Medical and Diagnostic Centre.

These three facilities account for an investment of over $100 million by the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).

Speaking at the official opening of the Smart Clinic on Monday, March 20, Health Planner, David Latchman said within the coming weeks, staff and patients at the facility will be called upon to participate in an occupancy survey, so that the Ministry of Health can get the necessary feedback on the performance of the upgraded facility.

Latchman said a lot of work was done to improve the original clinic in Georgetown; improvement works included a complete makeover of the roof of the clinic.

This was done in compliance with the OECS Building Code and the smart clinic is now able to withstand up to category 4 hurricanes.

One of the major differences between the old clinic and the smart clinic is that the entrance to the facility has been shifted.

Prior to Monday’s opening, the entrance to the clinic was the same as that used for the Georgetown Smart Hospital.

Georgetown Resident Evril Bacchus of Chili Village had the honour of cutting the ribbon to signal the opening of the Georgetown Smart Clinic on Monday

However, the entrance to the Smart Clinic is now just a little distance from the Chili Playing Field.

Latchman said the entrance was shifted “because we want to have that natural flow between the three facilities in the yard.”

Other upgrade works include an expansion of the dental area, an expansion of the pharmacy, the construction of a new laundry and improvement to all departments, including the nurses station.

The clinic also now has an area where patients can be nebulised, and an increased water storage capacity.

The upgrade to the clinic in Georgetown was done in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and UK aid.

Speaking at the opening ceremony on Monday, the new PAHO/WHO representative to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Dr Amalia Del Riego said the clinic in Georgetown is among eight local health facilities that have been retrofitted under the smart concept.

Health Planner David Latchman

She recalled that this concept was successfully piloted in 2012 in St Vincent and the Grenadines and also in St Kitts.

Dr Del Riego outlined three elements of the smart concept which were applied to the clinic at Georgetown.

These are: making the building safe and resilient; ensuring the sustainable use of water and electricity; and improving the functional patient flow at the facility.

Political and Projects Officer at the British High Commission, Kingstown, Seon Samuel, who represented the British High Commissioner said the smart clinic will help to boost this country’s resilience to the impact of climate and natural disasters.

Samuel said as a result of the smart concept, health facilities will have huge benefits, including operational savings.

Addresses at Monday’s opening were also delivered by Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves and Minister of Health, St Clair Prince.

Entertainment was provided by Maxwell ‘Tajoe’ Francois and Sweet Anointing Dancers and witnessed by many residents of Georgetown and surrounding communities.

Chili Village resident, Evril Bacchus cut the ribbon to signal the opening of the retrofitted facility.