The World Paediatric Project (WPP) has resumed its work to ensure that children in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean have access to advanced paediatric care.
WPP’s representative to Barbados, Patricia Deane said “WPP is excited to be restarting our clinics in Barbados”, after a lull caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic forced the organisation to temporarily cease operations.
A media release today said the WPP Eastern Caribbean initiative recommenced on Saturday, May 21, with a general orthopaedic and upper extremity diagnostic clinic for approximately 85 children at the Lewis Drug Mart, provided free of cost by pharmacist and owner, David Lewis.
Dr Clyde Cave, director of Medical Services at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, (QEH) was pleased with the restart of the WPP Eastern Caribbean initiative, according to the statement.
Cave said that in addition to the provision of the highest level of care, the Department of Paediatrics at the QEH is working towards becoming a centre of excellence.
This has resulted in the department forging relationships with the Shaw Centre for Paediatric Excellence and the World Paediatric Project to further explore the possibility of becoming the regional hub for paediatric patients from neighbouring Caribbean islands, as these partnerships develop the skills of the nurses, physicians and the entire team.
Cave said these partnerships provide “multiple benefits for us”.
“In addition to taking care of our children, it also provides our residents training in orthopaedics to be exposed not only to the visiting consultants, but also have the possibility of being sent overseas to observe different surgeries.”
Dr Andre Yusuff, one of the resident orthopaedic surgeons at the QEH, said the clinic was successful, and the team was looking forward to the upcoming clinics scheduled for later this year, including a scoliosis clinic in July.
Yusuff said that through the clinic, “close to 20 paediatric patients who will require surgery in the immediate future” had been identified. He added that some of these surgeries would be done in St Vincent and at the QEH, but the more complex cases would be performed in the United States.
Since 2014, WPP and the Sandy Lane Charitable Trust, in conjunction with the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, have completed 180 surgeries in Barbados, and provided advanced paediatric healthcare to 490 children. (PR/KG)
