Story of
Barbados
Barbados, a vibrant island nation with a population of approximately 282,000 (2023), faces a significant burden of vascular-related diseases, particularly due to diabetes and its complications. 14% of Barbadians have diabetes, and diabetic foot complications account for 30% of all hospital admissions. These conditions remain a leading cause of major limb amputations, highlighting the urgent need for specialised vascular care.
In 2017/2018, the Barbados government offers a scholarship for a surgeon to travel overseas and train to become the first vascular surgeon or Barbados.
What causes the most death and disability combined?
Top 10 causes of death and disability (DALYs) in 2019 and percent change 2009-2019, all ages combined. See related publication: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30925-9
The extensive inpatient burden of diabetes and diabetes-related foot disease in Barbados
Charles G Taylor, Jr, Mike Krimholtz, Kevamae C Belgrave, Ian Hambleton, Colette N George, Gerry Rayman. Clin Med (Lond) 2014 Aug; 14(4): 367–370. doi: 10.7861/clinmedicine.14-4-367
Introducing the First Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon in Barbados
Partnership between Northern Health (Melbourne, Australia) and Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Bridgetown, Barbados)
Dr Nina Yhap, a general surgeon from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), Bridgetown, Barbados, was awarded a government scholarship in 2017/2018 and underwent a two-year vascular surgery fellowship at the Northern Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. This training equipped her with core fundamental skills in both open and endovascular surgical techniques.
Reflecting on her early journey arriving in Australia, Dr Yhap recalls:
“Getting here was my biggest challenge—travelling 10,000 miles alone from Barbados. As any international medical graduate knows, the process is both strict and rigorous. I came here without my family, but I had a goal in mind—my country had a goal in mind for me.” (February 17, 2022)
Soft-spoken yet resolute, Dr Yhap affirms:
“I feel a very strong purpose to give back.”
Since her return in 2022, Dr Yhap has been pioneering vascular surgical services at QEH, gradually expanding the hospital’s capabilities and addressing the increasing demand for limb-saving procedures and complex vascular interventions.
Dr Nina Yhap was trained at Northern Health to become Barbados’ first vascular and endovascular surgeon. (Supplied/Northern Health)
First Steps Toward a Vascular Service in Barbados
Since Nina’s return, Barbados has seen significant progress in vascular care, supported by international collaboration and ongoing mentorship.
Key Achievements:
- Establishment of Barbados’ first vascular surgical service –
Dr. Yhap is leading vascular case referrals and procedural planning. - Participation in Northern Health’s Vascular MDT –
Weekly case discussions with international colleagues. - Increase in procedural complexity –
Introduction of elective open AAA repair and peri-carotid tumour excision for the first time in Barbados. - Improvements in angiography and diagnostics –
Some angiography performed in the Cath Lab, though regular sessions are still being developed. - Equipment donations and surgical training –
Essential vascular consumables and instruments provided to support ongoing vascular procedures.
Participation in the Northern Hospital Vascular Multidisciplinary Meeting for discussion of complex vascular cases.
Dr Yhap performing a femoropopliteal bypass surgery at QEH.
GVC-QEH Workshop: Advancing Vascular Surgery in Barbados
From 6–16 January 2025, Dr Iman Bayat (Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, Melbourne) led a mentoring workshop at Queen Elizabeth Hospital to further develop vascular surgical capacity in Barbados.
Workshop Highlights:
- Successful complex vascular surgeries performed:
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- An elective open AAA repair in Barbados – Completed with <500ml blood loss, patient stepped down to ward on day 4, ready for discharge by day 7.
- High vagal schwannoma resection – Initially considered for overseas referral, but successfully performed at QEH through a multidisciplinary approach.
These landmark surgeries mark a new chapter in Barbados’ vascular care, demonstrating that high-level vascular procedures can now be performed locally with the right expertise and infrastructure.
- Resident training and simulation sessions –
Strengthening surgical education at QEH using animal models for vascular anastomosis training. - Multidisciplinary collaboration –
Partnering with ENT, neurosurgery, and anaesthesia for complex cases. - Outpatient vascular clinic –
Providing consultations and assessments for patients with peripheral arterial disease, venous insufficiency, and diabetic foot complications
Dr Nina Yhap with stock donations from Global Vascular Companionship and Northern Hospital at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Barbados
An elective open AAA repair successfully performed at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH). The patient is seen recovering well on the ward.
Successful high vagal schwannoma tumour resection performed through multi-disciplinary approach – credits to: ENT head of department Miss Clarke and Dr Forde; Neurosurgeon Mr Gill; and Anaesthetist Dr Fakoory.
Resident training and simulation session – using animal models for vascular anastomosis training, allowing hands-on practice in fine suturing techniques.
Outpatient vascular clinic at the QEH – Providing consultations and assessments for patients with peripheral arterial disease, vascular access, venous insufficiency, and diabetic foot complications.
Barbados Mission Trip Video:
Future Vision: Strengthening Barbados’ Vascular Surgical Services
With a long-term goal of establishing a structured vascular program, the focus now shifts towards sustainability and training.
Key Priorities:
- Developing Barbados as a regional vascular training hub –
Providing training opportunities for local and Caribbean surgeons. - Expanding procedural capacity –
Increasing endovascular and hybrid procedures, including future endovascular AAA repair training in 2025. - Enhancing vascular imaging services –
Establishing regular angiography sessions in the Cath Lab. - Strengthening international mentorship –
Continued case discussions and training workshops with GVC and Northern Health.
With ongoing collaboration between GVC, the Northern Health, and QEH, Barbados is on track to develop a fully equipped vascular unit— ensuring more patients can receive life- and limb-saving vascular care locally.
The Global Vascular Companionship remains committed to supporting these initiatives, ensuring that vascular surgery continues to grow and evolve in Barbados.
If you can help with our missions/projects, consider donating:
Latest Missions/Projects
Mission to Mongolia
In June 2025, GVC volunteers Dr Vikram Iyer conducted a Vascular Training Workshop in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Story of Solomon Islands
In November 2024, GVC volunteers Dr Shrikkanth Rangarajan, Kellie Le and Tony Crowe conducted a comprehensive needs assessment and introduced key vascular interventions at NRH.
Story of Fiji
GVC has partnered with local healthcare professionals to support training, multidisciplinary collaboration, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at improving patient outcomes.
Story of Ethiopia
In January 2024, Global Vascular Companionship conducted its first vascular surgery mission at Jimma University Medical Center (JUMC)—a major tertiary hospital serving over 16 million people.
Story of Barbados
In 2017/2018 the Government offered a scholarship for a surgeon to travel overseas and train to become the first vascular surgeon in Barbados.