Senator O’Neil Donates Hygiene Supplies and Screens to Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre

Senator Shaquan O’Neil has made a personal donation to the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, contributing hygiene and cleaning items alongside screens to be used for public education and training across the hospital — a gesture that drew warm appreciation from the Health Minister and the hospital’s medical leadership.

The donation was formally presented at a brief ceremony at the SLBMC, during which Senator O’Neil expressed his commitment to continuing his support of the nation’s primary public hospital and the wider community it serves.

Health Minister the Honourable Michael Joseph attended the presentation and expressed gratitude for the contribution, applauding what he described as Senator O’Neil’s commitment to supporting Antigua and Barbuda’s healthcare infrastructure.

The hospital’s Medical Director also welcomed the donation with enthusiasm, underscoring the essential role that corporate and community support plays as the SLBMC continues its drive to enhance services and improve the experience of patients across the institution. She said the screens in particular would be put to immediate practical use for public health education and staff training throughout the hospital.

The SLBMC publicly thanked the senator for the contribution, stating plainly: “Your donation will definitely make an impact in our delivery of care.”

The gesture reflects a broader culture of community investment in the nation’s primary hospital at a time when the SLBMC is under significant pressure — navigating a rising chronic disease caseload, the prolonged closure of the Cancer Centre Eastern Caribbean, and an ambitious institutional reform agenda that includes new board leadership, online appointment services, and a strengthened infection prevention programme.

Senator O’Neil previously donated to the A Chance to Shine Cricket Academy that helped shape his own development as a young athlete.