Two employees whose careers span three eras of public hospital care in Antigua and Barbuda have retired after giving a remarkable combined 81 years of service to the country’s healthcare system.

Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre (SLBMC) celebrated the retirement of Central Sterilization Clerks Amelia Williams and Maria Thomas, paying tribute to decades of dedicated service that largely took place behind the scenes but remained critical to the daily functioning of the hospital.

Williams retires after 35 years of service, while Thomas ends an extraordinary 46-year career in healthcare.

Both women began their journeys at Holberton Hospital and remained part of the healthcare system through the transition to Mount St. John’s Medical Centre and its eventual renaming as Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre.

Their careers therefore represent an important period in the evolution of hospital services in Antigua and Barbuda.

Working in Central Sterilization, Williams and Thomas were among the employees responsible for supporting the safe delivery of patient care and ensuring healthcare professionals had properly sterilized equipment available when needed.

SLBMC said the women consistently showed up, carried out their responsibilities and supported their colleagues over the many decades they served.

“For more than three decades, and in Maria’s case, nearly five, they showed up, did the work, supported their colleagues and played an important behind-the-scenes role in keeping our hospital running and our patients cared for,” the medical centre said.

A retirement celebration provided colleagues with an opportunity to reflect on the years of service, friendships, memories and contributions of the two veteran employees.

“Amelia and Maria, thank you for giving so much of yourselves to our hospital and to the people of Antigua & Barbuda. Your work has mattered, and your presence will be missed,” SLBMC said.

The hospital wished both women a happy and well-deserved retirement as they close a chapter of public service that collectively stretched across more than eight decades.