Sir Lester Bird Medical Center’s new Medical Waste Incinerator (photo by Sir Lester Bird Medical Center)
The Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre (SLBMC) has introduced a new state-of-the-art medical waste incinerator, a move hospital officials say will significantly improve public health safety and environmental protection.
The project, financed by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda through the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), provides the country’s main hospital with modern equipment to handle both medical and non-medical waste in line with World Health Organization (WHO) and Basel Convention standards.
SLBMC’s Director of Operations & Maintenance, Marlon Jones, described the installation as a turning point: “This incinerator is more than just new equipment — it represents a milestone in how we protect both our patients and our environment.”
Newly appointed Director of Administration, Danley Phillip, added that the investment reflects forward-looking management: “It’s about doing things the right way — for our staff, our patients, and the wider community.”
Medical Director Dr. Shivon Belle-Jarvis stressed the clinical importance of the upgrade, highlighting that safe waste disposal is central to infection control.
Alongside the installation, the hospital is rolling out staff training and safety protocols, with ongoing monitoring of emissions to ensure compliance and prevent environmental contamination.
Officials say the initiative is part of a broader plan to modernize SLBMC’s waste management practices and strengthen the hospital’s infrastructure for the future.
Hopefully it will stop the rat infestation on the outside of the hospital. Cause who knows when a rat will decide to enter the doors?
Oh lovely. I feel like communities need this as well but it the thought of what will happen to them in the community
As long as emissions are controlled, this will definitely be better than open dumping.
I welcome this development. I hope it is put to good use and maintained