BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — In the face of ongoing COVID-19 cases across the island, the government of Barbados is partnering with the US Southern Command, World Hope International, the US Embassy in Barbados, MAP International, and LIFT to deliver a new oxygen generation system, 3 million USD in vital pharmaceutical drugs, and PPE to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Barbados is located in the Eastern Caribbean where limited oxygen resources have been made even scarcer than usual due to high demand. With a shortage of medical-grade oxygen in the region this past summer and experiencing the high costs of attempting to convert liquid oxygen into gas, Barbados has been searching for a solution that would make the island oxygen-independent and provide better health security.
Now, Barbados successfully identified and purchased an oxygen generator system that will enable it to independently produce enough oxygen to meet the ongoing crisis. In order to get the 5-ton system delivered to the island, Barbados reached out to the US Southern Command who brought in World Hope International.
“World Hope has partnered in the past with both SouthCom and Barbados on emergency relief and preparedness,” stated World Hope, chief executive officer, John Lyon, “and we are happy to support Barbados in becoming oxygen-independent. We are committed to working alongside our neighbors in the Caribbean to support sustainable solutions that improve the wellbeing of people. We are happy to support the logistics to move this oxygen generation system to Barbados and be able to deliver medical supplies donated by MAP International.”
“MAP International is honored to help serve the needs of the people of Barbados with medicines and health supplies to help fight against the spread of COVID-19,” said Steve Stirling, MAP International president and chief executive officer.
World Hope International is supporting the transportation of the nearly five and a half-ton generator system in a 767 cargo flight along with the delivery of the pharmaceutical drugs and PPE donated by MAP International.
The US ambassador to Barbados, taking part in the celebration surrounding the oxygen independence this weekend, remarked that, “These 300 pallets of medicine and medical supplies provided by MAP International, and the wings and wheels provided by World Hope, testify to the words so common at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic – We are all in this together. These faith-filled organizations live out their creed – to whom much is given, much is required.”