St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, 8 May 2024 (PAHO) – The Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) in Antigua and Barbuda, recently benefitted from training and other technical support provided by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) ahead of the fourth international Small Island Developing States (SIDS) conference to be held in that country the 27-30 May 2024.
The overall objective of the technical support was to enable Antigua and Barbuda to deploy its Type 1 EMT, a specialized medical team, efficiently and safely during the SIDS conference and to obtain positive feedback for the self-sustainable development of a fixed Type 1 EMT for health contingencies in the country.
The EMT Initiative of PAHO contributed by providing Antigua and Barbuda with essential resources such as a water supply kit, a waste management kit, a medical imaging kit, a portable ultrasound as well as technical assistance. These resources provide the country with greater operability in the field, increasing capabilities to support the country, especially as part of emergency response.
Approximately 5,000 participants are expected to attend the SIDS conference later this month. To enhance the health services provided at the conference, the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Social Transformation and the Environment of Antigua and Barbuda will introduce the Type 1 EMT at the conference venue. This team will be responsible for providing initial medical assistance in the event of any health emergencies that may arise at the conference venue of the American University of Antigua.
PAHO will also be assisting with the donation, training, and implementation of a patient information system to control and register the patients treated in the EMT.
