The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs is coordinating a Vascular Surgical Mission with the United States Military Medical Mission – Lesser Antilles Medical Team (LAMAT).
The medical mission is scheduled to be undertaken in Saint Lucia from Monday February 26 to Friday March 8, 2024.
A team of two vascular surgeons, two registered nurse anesthetists, three post anesthesia Care Unit Nurses, one surgical nurse, two Diabetic nurses and three surgical technicians from the LAMAT mission will be proving medical and surgical support. The Lesser Antilles Medical Team (LAMAT) team is providing medical and surgical equipment, medication and supplies to support the mission.
Vascular Surgical Procedures will be carried out at the Owen King European Hospital (OKEU) during the mission.
“As a national initiative, patients from across the entire island will be receiving care. Surgical specialists from both the OKEU and the St. Jude Hospital will be participating and working alongside the visiting specialists. A total of 40 dialysis patients are estimated to receive vascular surgical care through the placement of fistulas to facilitate dialysis treatment. Training to various levels of medical officers will be provided during the visit,” the Ministry of Health noted in a press release.
All visiting health care providers participating in the mission have been vetted as per legal requirements by the respective Medical and Dental, Pharmacy, Nursing and Allied Health Councils.
According to the Ministry, “As we have done with other visiting health missions, our national health care practitioners will be working alongwith the visiting volunteers. A register of patients seen will be kept and all cases will be referred to local health professionals as necessary, for follow up to ensure their continuity of care. The Ministry of Health, the Government and people of Saint Lucia look forward to this important and timely medical and surgical mission.”