20th September 2021

Some Community Wellness Centers closed temporary due to severe pressure on the already limited staff complement

By Ministry of Health

The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs has been responding to the surge in COVID-19 cases associated with the fourth wave which commenced on July 25, 2021. Though routine services continue to be delivered, the current COVID-19 situation has placed severe pressure on the already limited staff complement. Additionally, facilities have been severely impacted given that some staff members have periodically been placed in quarantine or isolation.

In response to this situation and to improve efficiency in the delivery of care, the Ministry of Health shall temporarily close the following Community Wellness Centers: - La Guerre, Babonneau - Ti Rocher, Castries - Delcer, Soufriere and - Fond St. Jacques Soufriere.

Clients of these Wellness Centers are asked to access care at another wellness center within their district. During the closure of these Wellness Centers the Health Aides will continue to provide screening services within the communities.

Additionally, the Ministry has taken the decision to scale-down the services offered at select Wellness Centers. This will allow for the reassignment of staff to facilities and sites with higher service demand including vaccination sites and respiratory clinics. Despite this redeployment, core services will still be provided at these down-scaled wellness centres which include the continuation of Diabetes, Hypertension and other chronic care services, as well as Maternal and Child Health services.

The clinic days for these Wellness Centres are as follows: - Canaries Wellness Centre – Tuesdays and Wednesdays - Vanard Wellness Centre – Mondays and Tuesdays - Etangs Wellness Centre – Tuesdays and Wednesdays - Saltibus Wellness Centre – Tuesdays - Grace Wellness Centre – Wednesdays - Ti Rocher Micoud Wellness Centre – Mondays and Thursdays - Mongouge Wellness Centre – Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

All scheduled Doctor Clinics shall remain as per schedule.

This scale-down will be for a period of two weeks, in the first instance commencing Monday September 20, 2021 and at the end of the period an assessment will be done to determine the need for its continuity. The Ministry of Health recognizes that these changes may be inconvenient for some members of the public but requests patience and cooperation as we attempt to meet the health care service needs to respond to the COVID-19 situation in Saint Lucia. The public will be kept updated of any further changes that may be taking place in the delivery of community wellness center services.

The Ministry of Health once again encourages Saint Lucians to get vaccinated to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 virus. For more information please contact the Office of the Community Nursing Services at 468-5309.

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