Residents of Barbuda could soon once again give birth on the sister island as the government moves to restore maternity services at the Hannah Thomas Hospital nearly a decade after Hurricane Irma disrupted operations there.

The plans were outlined during Thursday’s post-Cabinet briefing by Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant, following a presentation to Cabinet by Health Minister Michael Joseph.

Merchant said the Ministry of Health intends to reintroduce childbirth services at the hospital as part of broader efforts to improve healthcare access for Barbudans.

“Since Hurricane Irma in 2017, all childbirths in relation to Barbuda have been done on Antigua,” Merchant said, noting that deliveries have taken place at the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre since the storm devastated the island.

He said the government now wants to redevelop the maternity department at Hannah Thomas Hospital so residents can once again give birth in Barbuda.

“The restoration of maternity services there forms part of government’s broader commitment to ensuring that residents of the sister island have greater access to essential healthcare services closer to home,” Merchant said.

The Cabinet also approved additional upgrade plans for the hospital, including the introduction of laboratory services aimed at improving diagnostic capabilities and reducing the need for Barbudans to travel to Antigua for routine medical testing.

Merchant said the Ministry of Health will also work with the Ministry of Information Technology to introduce a new booking system that would allow Barbuda residents to schedule appointments for specialized services such as MRIs and X-rays before travelling to Antigua.

Asked whether the long-term goal includes handling high-risk pregnancies on Barbuda, Merchant said “that is part of the plan to ensure that all matters in relation to childbirth can be dealt with on Barbuda.”