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The Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre (SLBMC) has officially been certified as an Essential Stroke Centre by the World Stroke Organization (WSO)—a landmark recognition that places Antigua and Barbuda on the global map for specialized, high-quality stroke care.
The certification follows a rigorous assessment of the hospital’s stroke care systems, clinical protocols, emergency response, and multidisciplinary collaboration.
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It confirms that SLBMC meets international standards for the rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke—one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide.
“This is a defining moment not just for our hospital, but for our nation,” said Dr. Gaden Osborne, Neurologist and Chair of Subspecialty Services at SLBMC, who led the certification effort.
“For years, we’ve been working to ensure that patients in Antigua and Barbuda can access timely, evidence-based stroke care without leaving home. This certification validates that work and inspires us to keep improving.”
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Under Dr. Osborne’s leadership, SLBMC’s stroke team has worked tirelessly to strengthen care coordination, training, and community awareness around stroke response.
During the WSO assessment earlier this year, the team faced a real-time test when a patient presented with stroke symptoms just as evaluators were observing the hospital’s systems.
The team’s quick, coordinated, and effective response demonstrated the strength of SLBMC’s protocols in action.
Dr. Shivon Belle-Jarvis, SLBMC’s Medical Director, praised the milestone as “a powerful example of what’s possible when commitment, collaboration, and compassion come together.”
“Stroke care is one of the most time-sensitive areas in medicine,” said Dr. Belle-Jarvis.
“This certification is proof that our teams are not only capable but prepared—that we can deliver world-class care right here in Antigua and Barbuda when it matters most.”
Salma Crump, Head of Marketing & Communications, added that the achievement reflects SLBMC’s broader mission of elevating healthcare across the region.
“This certification isn’t just a hospital win—it’s a community win,” Crump said.
“Every patient and family who has been affected by stroke should know that their hospital has the systems, the people, and the passion to deliver the best possible care. It’s about trust, and it’s about progress.”
SLBMC’s designation as an Essential Stroke Centre aligns with the hospital’s ongoing efforts to advance clinical excellence, expand specialized services, and build a resilient, patient-centered health system for Antigua and Barbuda.
𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗘:
The Essential Stroke Centre certification was achieved through the leadership of Dr. Gaden Osborne, Neurologist and Chair of Subspecialty Services, and the dedicated collaboration of multiple departments across the hospital, including:
𝗡𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆
𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 (𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗦𝗥𝘀)
𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁 (𝗜𝗖𝗨)
𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗱
𝗣𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗰𝘆
𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆
𝗥𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆
𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁
𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆
𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆
𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 (𝗘𝗠𝗦)
𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆
Together, these teams strengthened the hospital’s stroke response systems, standardized care pathways, and improved coordination and communication across services—all essential elements that contributed to this prestigious certification from the World Stroke Organization.
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Congratulations to SLBMC on receiving this prestigious certification and congratulations to Dr. Gaden Osborne for your dynamic and superlative leadership in this process. Blessings Enough.
I hate it when government use sensitive issues to get political mileage, now the technical staff meaning doctors participated in a international program offered by private organization around the world, they indicated to this organization the infrastructural facility and what would be needed to specialize in taking care of stroke patients, a request was made to the minister and ALP government on a whole, and my gosh before anything can be procured to make this service a reality, the minister runs to the media saying that the hospital is a certified stroke care organization, we all know of the recklessness of Gaston as finance minister nothing will be done, all over government service is underfunded even though we have a grandstand budget speech each year.
These same minister if they have the slightest feeling of a stroke will quickly jump on a plane to the USA or some develop country for care.
Don’t know why they celebrate performative politics so much when all Antiguans can see that the politicians does not use the public hospitals.
Wowwwww I am elated reading this story. Now we can use things to promote our health tourism. This really ogres well for the island the economic opportunities to be derived are endless