The Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sharon Belmar- George attended and represented Saint Lucia at the Inauguration of the Caribbean Institute of Nuclear Imaging (ICIN) in Martinique on Saturday November 23, 2024 on the Pierre Zobda-Quitman 3 Hospital Site. The new platform of the ICIN is the result of the collaboration between the Territorial Collectivity, the Regional Health Agency and the University Hospital of Martinique.
This nuclear imaging institute integrates all of the advanced technological equipment required for diagnostics, such as the cyclotron and two positron emission tomography (PET scan). There are major benefits to PET/MRI scans. This allows screening, early diagnosis and accurate staging of cancers, neurological diseases and cardiovascular conditions. There is also the benefit of improved safety from significantly reduced radiation exposure (about 50% less).
During the Inauguration, presentations were received by Mr. Serge Letchimy, President of the Executive Council of Martinique who explained the significance of the ICIN and the importance of the strengthened healthcare services and cooperation for patients in Martinique and with the neighboring countries, the Caribbean and beyond. Presentations were also received by Mrs. Anne Bruant-Bisson, Director General of the Regional Health Agency of Martinique and Mr. Jerome Le Briere, Director General of the University Hospital of Martinique.
Director General of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Dr. Didacus Jules also presented and said “With this facility, we are making an unequivocal statement: access to worldclass healthcare should not be a privilege but a right, regardless of the size of our nations. This initiative ensures that the people of our region have access to cutting-edge treatments and early diagnostic tools, greatly enhancing our ability to combat cancer and save lives."
Dr. Jules further recognized President Letchimy and the Regional Council, and the dedicated health professionals. He also took the opportunity to single out the Head of the Critical Care Unit of the University Hospital of Martinique, Dr. Dabor Resiere who has been an unwavering champion of medical collaboration within the OECS. Following the official inauguration, the officials were taken on a tour of the Imaging Institute.
The Government of Saint Lucia through the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs looks forward to strengthening the collaboration with the health authorities in Martinique to ensure access to this state-of-the-art diagnostic technology to Saint Lucians in an organized, coordinated framework that is mutually beneficial to both countries.
Moreover, the availability of this facility to other Caribbean islands reinforces the principles ofunity and regional integration that lie at the heart of the OECS. By pooling resources, sharing expertise, and fostering collaboration, we can collectively overcome challenges that no single nation could face alone.”