Transportation assistance is being extended to residents of St John's Rural South who require medical care, following disruptions caused by ongoing repairs at a major community clinic. According to Antigua News Room, ABLP candidate and Education Minister Daryll Matthew disclosed the temporary measure during an appearance on ABS Television's "Know Your Candidates" programme.
Matthew explained that services at the Browns Avenue Clinic have been temporarily relocated, creating difficulties for patients who depend on the facility. "The Browns Avenue Clinic is undergoing major repairs… most of the persons from St John's Rural South tend to go to the Browns Avenue Clinic," he said. "They now have to go to the Harberton Hospital compound… it has proven to be a little inconveniencing."
To ease the disruption, transport is being made available to help affected residents travel to and from their appointments. "We have been providing access to persons, or transportation for persons who need to access clinical services to go back and forth," Matthew said.
Matthew did not outline a fixed schedule for the transport service or specify its frequency, but confirmed it is targeted at residents impacted by the service relocation.
The matter came up during a broader conversation about healthcare access in the constituency. Matthew also addressed longer-term plans to improve services in the area, including discussions about transforming an existing facility into a larger polyclinic.
"We've been having some discussions… about the health centre building… and perhaps retrofitting that building into a modern polyclinic," he said, adding that such a facility could serve communities in Ottos, Browns Avenue, and surrounding neighbourhoods.
However, Matthew cautioned that no timeline has been established for the project. He noted that the government is currently prioritising upgrades at other clinics and is contending with staffing shortages that complicate any expansion of services.
"The more clinics you set up… you need more nurses, you need more doctors… and we are short of nurses," he said, stressing that facility growth must be carefully weighed against available human resources.
In the meantime, Matthew said the immediate priority is preserving continuity of care for residents, with the transportation arrangement serving as a stopgap while repairs to the Browns Avenue Clinic are completed.
