ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA, MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2010_ A call has been made for the Princess Alice Hospital to take the lead in becoming self-sufficient by growing its own food to feed its patients and staff.
The call has come from Minister for Housing, Lands and Community Development, Hon. Alleyne Walker. According to the Minister, Princess Alice Hospital has what it takes to marry agriculture and health.
The St. Andrew healthcare facility simply has to utilize the lands around it to cultivate healthy food to sustain itself, he said in an address at a thanksgiving ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of Princess Alice Hospital.
Hon. Walker, who is the Parliamentary Representative for St. Andrew’s North West, recalled that a similar initiative was undertaken in the past by the hospital. He is convinced that its reintroduction can bring positive returns for the hospital and those who may be involved in the scheme.
The senior government official noted that health is just not about staying well and avoiding sickness, but also about how we live our lives as individuals, in a productive way.
As individuals, it is extremely important to take our health seriously and make it a priority, he said. Join forces with the government and healthcare providers to make our healthcare services the best in the region, Hon. Walker urged.
He said everyone at some point gets sick and would need healthcare services. For this reason, we need to work together to build what we have, regardless of our differences, Minister Walker said.
The Princess Alice thanksgiving ceremony, held on March 4, was attended by a large gathering of government officials, past and present members of staff, as well as public servants and media representatives.
The state-owned community hospital, which serves the predominantly agricultural communities of St. Andrew and St. Patrick, as well as parts of St. John and St. David, was commissioned by Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, on March 4, 1950.
