May Pen Hospital gets Equipment Valued Almost J$10 Million

Equipment valued at almost J$10 million has been officially handed over to the May Pen Hospital on the occasion of its 30th anniversary celebrations.

The handing over took place recently on the hospital grounds.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, Nadia Howe commended the business community and the respective donors for their partnership in providing healthcare services to the parish.

“Today we recognise more philanthropy from the business community,” she said.

Mrs. Howe said the hospital had received a state-of-the-art ultrasound machine valued at some J$6 million (US$100,000) from the National Health Fund (NHF), as well as a laproscopic endoscopy machine valued at J$3.6 million (US$60,000), which had been contributed by an unnamed donor.

In addition the hospital has also received two phototherapy lamps valued at a total of J$300,000 from the Bank of Nova Scotia and Juici Patties.

Paediatric consultant at the hospital, Dr. Darcie Haughton explained that the phototherapy lamps were being used in the treatment of jaundice, particularly in babies, while Dr. Trevor Potter, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist explained that the laproscope was used for diagnostic procedures involving the treatment of infertility, chronic pelvic pain, and endometriosis, as well as operative procedures such as hysterectomies, cystectomies and intervention where ectopic pregnancies existed.

“The machine here, which is a worthwhile donation, will impact significantly on healthcare and the sort of services we are able to offer our patients here at the hospital in both gynaecology and general surgery,” he said.

He pointed out that the ultrasound machine had three-dimensional capabilities and offered a wide range of applications in the areas of obstetrics and gynaecology, general surgery, paediatrics, and cardiovascular work.

Other members of the business and service community were also commended for their contributions to the hospital including Rapid Sheffield Limited, Balani Jewellers, the Music Centre, the Pensioners Association of Clarendon, Epic Hardware, Lasmed and the Inner Wheel of the Rotary Club.

The 30th anniversary celebrations began on Sunday, February 20 with a church service at the St. Gabriel’s Anglican Church.

On Monday (February 21) private stakeholders who had made contributions to the hospital over a number of years were honoured.

On Tuesday (February 22) the culmination of an essay competition with the theme of HIV/AIDS among teenagers and teenage pregnancy was held among high school students in the parish.

First, second and third place winners of the competition received scholarship grants from the National Commercial Bank (NCB) Insurance Company.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, (February 24) the dietary department of the hospital hosted sessions on proper meal planning and eating habits for diabetics and other chronic illness patients.

The event involved sampling sessions by CARIMED.

Today, the week of activities will culminate in a ‘Safe Sex’ march where condoms will be distributed courtesy of ‘Slam Condoms’.

The march will proceed from the hospital to the town of May Pen.

The May Pen Hospital was officially opened on December 12, 1974. Situated on 18 acres of land donated by former Custos Muirhead of Clarendon, the institution started out with 50 beds, two wards, one operating room, casualty department, dietary department, stores, X-ray facilities, a laboratory and pharmacy departments, with a staff complement of 25 including two doctors and 18 nurses.

The new hospital facilities officially opened by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson in 1997 boasts over 150 beds and provides outpatient services to some 2,800 persons monthly and has some 730 admissions monthly.

It has six wards, two operating rooms, an accident and emergency department, outpatient department, central sterilizing and supply, Xray facilities, stores, dietary department, physiotherapy, a medical laboratory, a pharmacy, and laundry facilities as well as a blood collection centre.

The hospital has a staff of almost 300 including 28 medical doctors, and 108 nurses.

In July 2003, the hospital moved from a Type C to a Type B hospital in transition, where it is now offering specialized services in the areas of Internal Medicine, Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Anaesthesiology and General Surgery to more than 298,000 existing, and potential clients in Clarendon.