Staff at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Anguilla spent hours each day filling oxygen canisters, often handling the task themselves to maintain patient care, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. The hospital faced frequent shortages due to reliance on small local suppliers and imports from neighboring islands, a vulnerability highlighted during extreme events like Hurricane Irma in 2017. Concerns about self-sufficiency prompted hospital leadership to implement a centralized medical oxygen system, now fully operational, delivering piped oxygen directly to all 32 beds and supporting surgeries, intensive care, and daily patient needs.
This system is part of a broader resilience initiative funded by Direct Relief in partnership with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), totaling $3 million across ten projects. These projects focus on healthcare, energy, and infrastructure improvements to enhance disaster preparedness and response, including resilient power systems for hospitals and emergency management facilities, mobile medical units, and epidemiological surveillance. Strengthening healthcare infrastructure was prioritized after Hurricane Beryl in 2024, which disrupted access to care and highlighted the vulnerability of island medical facilities.
Resilient power systems have proven essential for hospitals like Dominica’s China Friendship Hospital, enabling continued operation despite grid failures after Hurricane Maria. Such systems not only support emergency services but also reduce operational costs, allowing more resources to be directed toward patient care. Similarly, in the British Virgin Islands, Direct Relief-funded projects—including medical oxygen plants, pharmaceutical refrigeration, and backup power—have increased self-sufficiency and ensured continuity of care during disasters.
Across the Caribbean, climate change has amplified threats from hurricanes, sea level rise, and extreme weather, disproportionately affecting small island nations that contribute minimally to global emissions. Strategic regional collaboration allows neighboring countries to provide water, medical supplies, and personnel during crises, while community members assist displaced populations. Investments in resilient healthcare, energy systems, and ecosystem protection are integral to long-term resilience, ensuring hospitals and communities can function during and after disasters, while supporting faster recovery and sustained public health outcomes.
