Barbadians will have access to free medical services from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy Hospital Ship, “Silk Road Ark”, when it visits Barbados on its first overseas humanitarian medical service mission from December 20 to 27, this year.

The hospital ship has five medical areas for casualty transfer, triage, outpatient, inpatient, and evacuation, with eight operating rooms. It includes 14 clinical departments and seven auxiliary diagnostic units.

The Silk Road Ark also has a helicopter onboard to enhance emergency capacity, and offers over 60 types of medical and surgical procedures, adhering to the principles of safety, efficacy, and technical maturity.

While on a seven-day port stay in Barbados, the hospital will open to the public from Sunday, December 21, until Friday, December 26, between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., and from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., each day.

Departments on the hospital ship include: Cardiovascular Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Gastroenterology, General Surgery, Orthopaedics, Otolaryngology, Ophthalmology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Stomatology, Paediatrics, Dermatology, Traditional Chinese Medicine Physiotherapy, Special Examination Room and Imaging Room.

Some of the surgeries performed on the hospital ship are:

• Gastroenterology: routine or painless gastrointestinal endoscopy
• General Surgery: appendectomy, hernia repair, breast lump removal, skin lesion removal, nail extraction
• Orthopaedics: internal fixation of spinal and limb fractures, rib fracture fixation, open limb trauma, treatment of knee injuries, and management of frozen shoulder
• Urology: enlarged scrotum ligation, redundant circumcision
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology: normal deliveries, caesarean sections
• Ophthalmology: cataract extraction/ treatment for cataract
• Otolaryngology: Common surgeries of the ear, nose, and throat
• Traditional Chinese Medicine: Cupping, Acupuncture

To control infectious disease transmission and to avoid major medical disputes, patients with temperatures exceeding 37.5°C, those with open tuberculosis, coma patients, or individuals with critical conditions indicating infectious disease risks, will not be allowed onboard.

All physicians, nurses and pharmacists working on the Silk Road Ark will be registered with the respective councils in Barbados. Members of the public may visit the ship for examination, diagnosis and treatment, or may present with a referral letter from their doctor. 

The Ministry of Health and Wellness encourages Barbadians to take advantage of this significant humanitarian gesture from the People’s Republic of China.

Ministry of Health and Wellness