Residents of the Sister Islands may soon have access to critical, medical treatment close to home with the establishment of the planned HOPE Oncology and Dialysis Centre on Cayman Brac.
The 2,000 square-foot facility is a public-private partnership project that is to be built on the grounds of the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority’s Faith Hospital. It will offer dedicated treatment space with chemotherapy chairs, dialysis stations, a mammography room and consultation suites to connect with specialists in-person and virtually.
Planning, design and fundraising efforts for the initiative were started in 2024. To become a reality, however, Kathy Kirkconnell, volunteer project coordinator and Cayman Brac resident, said it will take a collaborative effort to achieve the fundraising goal of CI$1.4 million.
“As a breast cancer survivor, I have a particular desire for ensuring every aspect of the centre has been designed with patients and their families in mind,” said Kirkconnell. “By bringing these services home to the Brac, we are removing one of the most painful parts of treatment – the need to leave loved ones behind during such vulnerable times. Every dollar raised will go directly to ensuring our loved ones can heal with dignity.”
Driven by the spirit of community, the project is being championed by both public and private stakeholders. Various organisations have already pledged support for land preparation, architectural design, legal advice, construction and furnishings, highlighting the shared belief that health care is everyone’s business and should be compassionate and accessible to all.
Once completed, the Health Services Authority will assume management and staffing of the facility.
For many Brac residents, managing chronic illness has meant enduring frequent travel to Grand Cayman, often twice a month, to receive chemotherapy. These journeys not only impose logistical and financial burdens, but also expose vulnerable, immunocompromised patients to the added risk of infection. Upon returning home, patients are often physically and emotionally exhausted, at a time when they most need rest and support.
Dialysis services on the Brac have steadily expanded to meet growing demand, but with no dedicated space, treatment continues within the inpatient unit, limiting capacity and long-term sustainability.
“We are not just building infrastructure, we are building trust, continuity of care, and peace of mind,” said Dr. Srirangan Velusamy, director of Sister Islands Health Services. “This centre reflects the community’s long-standing commitment to dignity in care and equity in access.”
Minister for Health, Environment & Sustainability Katherine Wilks-Ebanks emphasised the broader value of the project
“The HOPE Centre demonstrates how powerful and meaningful our healthcare system can become when the community comes together with a shared vision,” she said. “This public-private partnership will not only deliver vital treatment close to home, it will stand as a symbol of innovation, resilience, and compassion for generations to come.”
For more information or to support the HOPE Oncology & Dialysis Centre initiative, please send an email [email protected] or call 925-2225.
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