Sixteen health facilities in Saint Lucia will undergo various degrees of improvements to make them disaster resilient, thanks to the Pan American Health Organization, after an analysis of the 34 health facilities in Saint Lucia. Five of the facilities were selected for retrofitting including Comfort Bay Senior Citizens Home; Vieux Fort Polyclinic; Transit Home for Children; Castries Health Center and La Clery Health Center. Another 12 facilities will undergo specific smart interventions to support energy and water conservation efforts. The works proposed for the first facility, the Comfort Bay Senior Citizens Home, include improving the roof, fire safety and electrical distribution systems, energy efficient lighting and ventilation quality throughout the facility, providing solar water heaters, rain water harvesting and a photo voltaic system. Handrails will be provided along all corridors and the tiled floors will be etched to ensure they are not slippery when wet. PAHO has already begun the tendering for designs for Vieux Fort Polyclinic; Transit Home for Children, Castries Health Center and La Clery Health Center. PAHO is also working with the Ministry of Health to complete the drawings and specifications for the remaining 12 facilities.
