Saint Jude Hospital (SJH) will serve as the distribution centre for medical supplies earmarked for public health facilities in Saint Lucia, through a new partnership agreement signed with the international aid organization, AmeriCares.

AmeriCares is a non-profit disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization which provides immediate response to emergency medical needs and supports long-term health care initiatives in the United States and around the world.

The organization, based in Stamford, Connecticut, will provide medical supplies, drugs and equipment for public health facilities in Saint Lucia. The hospital will receive, store and distribute these supplies to the island's public health facilities, including thirty-three health centers.

Saint Jude has, over the past eighteen months, worked closely with Catherine Sealys, Petra Nelson, Laura Jn Pierre and Leola St. Claire of Women in Action (WIA) to build a partnership and secure donations.

The shipment of the donated medical supplies was made possible through the support of the Prime Minister’s office which facilitated an exemption from VAT duties for their importation.

AmeriCares has worked with WIA and Saint Jude Hospital to design a system of accountability and reporting for the expected donation. A test shipment is expected to arrive on the island by October, 2015. AmeriCares will provide and ship additional supplies every 18 months.

Saint Jude Hospital is pleased to partner with AmeriCares and envisions that with this donation it will be able to provide better healthcare to citizens who require additional assistance.

The hospital thanks AmeriCares for its generous donation, Women in Action for bringing the two organizations together, and Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Kenny D. Anthony for his assistance in facilitating the importation of these supplies, for the continued improvement of Saint Lucia's healthcare system.