ROSEAU, Dominica - Saturday, August 19, 2006 - The tourism sector in Dominica has received a major boost with the installation of a hyperbaric chamber at the Princess Margaret Hospital. Funded by the European Union under the Eco-Tourism Development Programme at a cost of $750,000, the well equipped and functional facility will be used for treating emergencies associated with scuba diving.

Speaking at the handing over of the chamber on Monday, Chief Medical Officer (acting), Dr. David Johnson stated that the Facility “is a significant boost to the tourism and health sectors, which will translate in increased revenue to the island from the scuba diving tourism industry and will improve the quality of care offered at the Princess Margaret Hospital.”

The ministry official listed the other functions the hyperbaric chamber will perform:

• The chamber will be used as a marketing tool to scuba diving travellers;
• With a functional chamber there will be no need for air evacuation to neighbouring islands for treating their medical emergencies related to diving.
• The chamber will be used in treating other non-diving medical conditions, such as burns, diabetic wounds, selected surgical wounds and other medical conditions that require increased oxygen saturation.

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Dominica's new hyperbaric chamber