Lady Allen urges Jamaicans to give back to their Communities

Wife of the Governor-General, Lady Allen is encouraging Jamaicans to adopt a spirit of volunteerism and a willingness to give back to their communities.

She said this will not only impact positively on the development of the country, but also on individuals.

“There is no greater satisfaction than giving of one’s self to the benefit of others,” she stated, while addressing the official ceremony for the handing-over of the renovated Learning and Activity Centre at the Bustamante Hospital for Children in Kingston on Monday (March 5).

Referencing an article published by Forbes magazine, Lady Allen informed that charitable work has a positive effect not only on those being helped, but also on the person offering the assistance.

“Charitable work makes the heart grow stronger,” she quoted, further noting that the article informed that individuals with coronary artery disease who participated in voluntary activities after suffering a heart attack reported a reduction in despair and depression.

“The study further showed a decrease in mortality and an increase in life expectancy,” she said.

Lady Allen, who is patron of the Bustamante Hospital for Children, further encouraged Jamaicans to give of their time to the children at the institution. “Many of the children here on a long term basis suffer from chronic diseases. They do not seek our sympathy, they seek our encouragement and respect,” she said.

She further noted that many of the children yearn to feel normal like their friends. “They do not wish to sit languishing in their rooms, they wish to explore, grow and learn like their counterparts,” she remarked.

Lady Allen noted that the hospital’s Learning Centre was therefore a great project, which gives the children a chance to keep up with their school work, even while receiving long term health care.

“This Learning Centre offers them a semblance of normalcy. The centre is where they can take their minds away from the illnesses that affect their bodies,” she said.

In his remarks, Chairman, South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA), Lyttleton Shirley said he was pleased to see the extent of the work that was done at the Learning Centre.

He said the centre, which was originally established at the hospital in 1991, is a vital component of the services offered at the institution. “When children are hospitalised for extended periods, many times, falling behind in school work is a major concern for both their families and for our young patients. The existence of an education programme gives each child a familiar and reassuring routine in an unfamiliar setting,” he stated.

Mr. Shirley further thanked Lady Allen for “pioneering the collaborative effort with the Bank of Nova Scotia and Restaurants of Jamaica”, which led to the complete renovation of the area.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Scotiabank, Bruce Bowen noted that a number of children who attend the hospital’s learning centre will be among the thousands of students who will sit the Grade Six Achievement Test in March.

“It is therefore a great opportunity for them to focus more on their studies and we hope that it will improve their chances in the GSAT,” he stated.

The Bustamante Hospital for Children is the only specialist children’s hospital in Jamaica and the English-speaking Caribbean. The hospital, with a bed capacity of 283 caters to patients from birth to 12 years, from Jamaica and the wider Caribbean. The hospital sees approximately 77,000 patients annually.

By Athaliah Reynolds-Baker, JIS Reporter