The Integrated Health Outreach (IHO) has welcomed last week’s Cabinet approval to establish a 24-hour shelter for victims of gender-based violence in Antigua and Barbuda.

Executive Director Dr. Nicola Bird described the announcement as a moment of “absolute jubilance,” crediting widespread community support for the initiative. The facility will be built through a partnership between IHO and the government and aims to provide safe refuge and long-term support for survivors.

Dr. Bird said the shelter addresses a long-standing gap in protection services across the region, where rates of gender-based violence remain high. “Many victims have nowhere to go and end up returning to abusive situations,” she noted.

Jamie Saunders, head of the Directorate of Gender Affairs, said the shelter will go beyond emergency housing by offering psychosocial support, job skills, and reintegration programmes. “It’s more than a structure — it’s a holistic service to help survivors rebuild their lives,” he said.

To ensure sustainability, IHO plans to launch a women’s agro-tech beekeeping project that will generate income and employment for residents while helping fund operations. Construction of the shelter is expected to be completed within a year.