The North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) continues to advance patient care and environmental responsibility with the implementation of a solar-powered backup system at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC). This initiative, supporting both the Emergency Department and Intensive Care Units (ICU), aligns with international sustainability efforts, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), and Goal 13 (Climate Action).
According to NCRHA CEO Davlin Thomas, the project reflects the Authority’s dual commitment to patient safety and environmental sustainability, ensuring reliable energy for critical medical equipment while reducing the hospital’s carbon footprint.
“This initiative is about more than just contingency power; it’s about responsible care; care for our patients, care for our healthcare system, and care for the environment,” Thomas stated. “By integrating solar energy into our emergency infrastructure, we not only ensure an uninterrupted power supply for life-saving equipment but also contribute to a healthier, more sustainable future consistent with SDG goals.
The project includes the installation of solar panels, battery storage, and backup systems, meticulously designed to support essential functions such as ICU ventilators. Built in compliance with regulatory standards for medical devices and electrical safety, these systems strengthen resilience while minimizing environmental impact. Additionally, contingency plans have been developed to handle prolonged outages or equipment failures, ensuring uninterrupted patient care.
The NCRHA has also launched, through its Wellness Club, an Agri-Wellness Initiative on the EWMSC compound. The project which commenced in October of 2023 aims to promote holistic well-being through gardening and healthy lifestyle choices, including physical, mental, social, and emotional aspects. This green endeavour focuses on planting crops like dasheen, bananas, plantain, breadfruit, ochros, melongene, chives, pimentos, lettuce, patchoi, parsley, chadon beni, cassava, and spinach and encourages healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating fresh produce and engaging in physical activity.
The project expanded to include more local fruit and vegetable produce, which additionally have be used to supplement and aid in the provision of organic meals for patients. The Agri-Wellness Initiative is a testament to NCRHA’s belief that environmental care and patient care are interlinked, promoting wellness through a healthier, greener setting.
By embracing renewable energy solutions and sustainable innovation, the NCRHA is leading the way in wholistic healthcare, balancing the urgent need for power reliability with long-term environmental responsibility. This milestone reinforces the NCRHA’s mission to deliver quality healthcare while protecting the world in which we live—because great health starts with a healthy environment.
