Lovell Says Nurse Recruitment Must Be Matched by Repairs to Health Facilities

Opposition United Progressive Party candidate Harold Lovell is calling on the government to address the condition of public health facilities, warning that recruiting additional nurses without fixing clinics will not improve healthcare delivery.

Lovell said he welcomed nurses arriving to serve the country, including those from Ghana, noting that their skills and commitment are needed at a critical time. However, he argued that nurses cannot provide quality care in clinics that are closed, dilapidated or unsafe.

He said several clinics across Antigua and Barbuda have remained shuttered for years, with no clear timelines for reopening, limiting the ability of healthcare workers to properly serve patients.

Lovell criticized what he described as a focus on appearances rather than solutions, saying recruiting nurses while facilities remain non-functional does not amount to a healthcare strategy. He said meaningful improvements will only come when the government addresses infrastructure deficiencies in the public health system.

“It’s time to stop managing appearances and start managing healthcare,” Lovell said, adding that without repairs to clinics and hospitals, increased staffing alone will not fix the system.

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