The Princess Royal Hospital marked a historic milestone in healthcare self-sufficiency with the official commissioning of its first-ever on-site Oxygen Generation Bank.
For years, Carriacou and Petite Martinique were forced to transport heavy oxygen cylinders by sea from mainland Grenada—a process that was often costly and vulnerable to logistical delays.
The new bank ensures a stable, round-the-clock supply for critical patients, providing what local clinicians call the “breath of life” to the hospital’s wards.
Honorable Tevin Andrews, Minister for Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs and Local Government thanked the OECS Commission, Direct Relief and PAHO. Minister Andrews, who has championed several infrastructure projects including recent water storage and desalination upgrades in Belair, framed the oxygen bank as a core component of his vision for a modernized Carriacou. “For years, we had no choice but to transport tanks filled with oxygen from Grenada,” Minister Andrews stated. “Today, that becomes a thing of the past. We are putting the systems in place to have a steady supply of medical-grade oxygen right here at home”.
The ceremony brought together key figures in the national health and disaster management sectors. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Shawn Charles detailed how the bank integrates into Grenada’s broader national health strategy to modernize remote medical services, while Health Disaster Management Officer Ms. Kathy-Ann Morain shared the “technical journey” of the project, highlighting the bank’s role in building resilience against future disasters.
Dr.Roxanne Brizan-St.Martin, Programme Director OECS Commission Health, Social Inclusion, and Social Protection, further emphasized how the facility strengthens health infrastructure across the Eastern Caribbean as nine (9) islands benefited from the OECS-Direct Relief Enhancing Health Infrastructure and Resilience (EHR) Project.
From a clinical perspective, Dr. Karla Mc Donald, House Officer at Princess Royal spoke on the practical benefits for frontline staff, noting that on-site oxygen production is a game-changer for emergency response and daily patient care.