Caption – Photos: From left US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) Deputy Commander for Mobilization and Reserve Affairs Major General Javier Reina, CEO of the Northwest Regional Health Authority Major (Ret.) Anthony Blake, United States Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago Candace Bond, Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh, and Chairman of the Northwest Regional Health Authority Lisa Agard cut the ribbon to the mobile medical units, Clinics in a Can. Photo: US Embassy in Port of Spain
THE United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), through the US Embassy in Port of Spain, has donated two state-of-the-art mobile medical units, known as “Clinics in a Can,” to the Ministry of Health.
Valued at over US$490,000, these units are equipped with advanced medical technology, including digital x-ray machines and trauma room equipment, and feature energy-efficient solar panels.
The donation ceremony took place at the Port of Spain General Hospital on Wednesday, where U S Ambassador Candace Bond highlighted the units’ capabilities to deliver a wide range of medical services, from basic care to advanced treatments.
She said, “The units are equipped with state-of-the-art tools and technology, such as digital x-ray machines and trauma room equipment. Their design incorporates solar panels, which makes them energy efficient,”
“They are designed to offer a wide range of medical services, from basic care to more advanced medical treatments and procedures. These mobile medical units will significantly bolster the hospital’s capacity to support the emergency department’s response to public health emergencies and provide routine care,” the US Ambassador pointed out.
She added: “This is another example of how the United States of America supports Trinidad and Tobago’s public health and health delivery as Trinidad and Tobago’s good neighbour and best friend and partner in the world.”
SOUTHCOM’s Deputy Commander, Major General Javier Reina, noted that this donation marks the third pair of clinics provided to countries in the Western Hemisphere, following similar contributions to Ecuador and Honduras. He underscored the ongoing collaboration between SOUTHCOM and the Trinidad and Tobago government in various humanitarian projects.
Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh expressed gratitude for the donation, which he described as a crucial enhancement to the nation’s healthcare infrastructure. He praised the initiative as a vital step in modernizing public health services, particularly in emergency situations.
