The United Workers Party Babonneau Constituency Branch expresses deep concern over the recent closure of both the Fond Assau and Babonneau Health Centres without adequate public notice or contingency planning.
It has come to our attention that patients from these two communities are now being redirected to the La Guerre Health Centre. Shockingly, there have been no official notices posted at the closed facilities to inform the public of this change. As a result, residents, many arriving as early as 5 am have been met with locked doors, confusion and frustration.
We understand that both Health Centre’s are expected to remain closed for approximately six months to facilitate renovations. While we welcome any improvement to public infrastructure, it is completely unacceptable that both key health centers serving the Babonneau district have been closed simultaneously, without a viable and clearly communicated alternative in place.
The La Guerre Health Centre is now overwhelmed, bearing the full burden of care for the entire district. Staff, despite doing their best under pressure, setting up tents and adding chairs are working in severely strained conditions. The overcrowding is affecting the quality and timeliness of care and placing an enormous burden on already overworked nurses and doctors.
We take this opportunity to commend the healthcare professionals at La Guerre for their dedication, resilience and professionalism. Their commitment to serving the people under such difficult circumstances deserves recognition and immediate reinforcement.
This situation exposes a broader issue of poor planning and a lack of patient-centered thinking from the Ministry of Health. A clear and practical solution would have been the temporary use of the Babonneau Community Center to continue providing healthcare access to residents in the area. Such a measure could have eased pressure on La Guerre and prevented disruption in care.
We strongly urge the Ministry of Health to immediately revisit its decision-making process and prioritise the needs of the people. We also call on relevant stakeholders, including the media and civil society, to visit the La Guerre Health Center and witness firsthand the conditions being endured by both patients and staff.
The people of Babonneau deserve better. The UWP will continue to stand with them until a just and practical solution is implemented.
