Emergency Deep Cleaning Underway After Bed Bug Infestation at Urban Polyclinic

A reported bed bug infestation at the Dr. Betty Wells Urban Polyclinic forced healthcare workers to stop operations on Friday, triggering growing public concern over conditions at Saint Lucia’s primary healthcare facilities and prompting an urgent response from the Ministry of Health. As reports emerged that staff and patients had been experiencing itching for months, Health Minister Moses Jn Baptiste announced intensified inspections and deep-cleaning measures across wellness centres islandwide, while officials moved to contain the outbreak and redirect patients to alternative medical facilities.

Health Minister Moses Jn Baptiste says regular inspections of the island’s wellness centres will now intensify following the infestation at the Dr. Betty Wells Urban Polyclinic.

On the morning of Friday, May 8, nurses, doctors and other members of staff reportedly downed their tools after concerns over the infestation surfaced publicly. Sources within the institution told Saint Lucia Daily Post that the issue had allegedly been affecting the facility for months, with both patients and staff complaining of itching.

Speaking during Monday’s Pre-Cabinet Press Briefing, Jn Baptiste confirmed that the Environmental Health Division had intervened and that eradication measures were already underway. He explained that deep cleaning exercises began on Saturday, May 9, and continued into Sunday, May 10, as authorities worked to contain the problem.

According to the minister, an official assessment conducted on May 8 revealed evidence of bed bugs in two locations within the urgent care section of the facility.

“On May 8th 2026, the Environmental Health Division within the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Nutrition conducted an assessment of the urgent care areas at the Dr. Betty Wells Urban Polyclinic after complaints from the staff. The findings revealed the presence of bedbugs in two locations in the urgent care area,” Jn Baptiste stated.

The Health Minister said the Ministry’s response going forward will involve a two-pronged strategy focused on public education and increased inspections and sanitation exercises at wellness centres across the island.

While addressing how such infestations may occur, Jn Baptiste suggested that pests are often unintentionally transported into medical facilities by visitors and patients entering the clinics.

“I appreciate the fact that we do get situations like this at our various wellness centres, but in most cases those rodents or insects, in most cases, get to the wellness centres or the facilities transported on individuals who visit our wellness centres,” he explained.

Jn Baptiste further assured the public that the Ministry would continue monitoring the situation closely and take all necessary steps to ensure healthcare facilities remain safe for both workers and patients.

“The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Nutrition continues to advise all persons who come to the clinics for services to ensure that, first of all, they adhere to the health protocols whether in the community or at home,” he added.

Responding to allegations that previous complaints about infestations may have been ignored, the minister said he did not yet have all the details but promised the matter would be reviewed.

“I know there have been reports in the past, whether it be sighting rodents or bedbugs at various institutions, our teams go in to take care of it. I will certainly promise the people of Saint Lucia, in particular the workers at the various medical institutions in Saint Lucia that any time those reports reach the Ministry we take it very seriously,” he said.

When questioned about reports of similar infestations at the Gros Islet Polyclinic and the Bexon Wellness Centre, Jn Baptiste neither confirmed nor denied the claims, stating only that officials are currently assessing conditions at wellness centres around the island.

The Saint Lucia Daily Post understands that some patients are currently being redirected to other healthcare facilities, including the La Clery Health Centre, as mitigation efforts continue at the Urban Polyclinic.

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