Prince Harry Visits Young Patients at Bustamante Hospital

His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales (always known as Prince Harry), was given a warm  welcome this morning (March 6), during his first visit to the only specialist paediatric hospital in the Caribbean, the Bustamante Hospital for Children in Kingston.

The Prince, who is on a four-day visit to the island in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee of his grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, toured the 283-bed health facility, where he interacted with staff and the young patients.

He was accompanied by Governor General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen; Health Minister, Hon. Dr.  Fenton Ferguson; and a patron of the hospital, popular entertainer Orville “Shaggy” Burrell. 

Scheduled stops included Ward 1, which caters to orthopaedicpatients, the Medical Ward and the hospital’s Learning and Activity Centre.

The Prince, who requested a “private moment with the ailing” young ones appeared empathetic and on occasions lingered to share words of comfort with the patients, while offering consolation to their parents and caregivers.

During to his visit to the hospital’s Learning and Activity Centre, the Prince was welcomed by a chorous of “Welcome to you Prince Harry” while a parent excitedly exclaimed: “Him pretty eh, Him favour him mother to death!” no doubt in reference to his late mother, Princess Diana.

Prince Harry concluded the tour with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque on the main entry building in honour of The Queen.

His visit to Jamaica comes to an end on Thursday afternoon (March 8), when he departs from the Sangster International Airport in St. James.

Prince Harry arrived in Jamaica on Monday (March 5), which is his final stop on a tour of Commonwealth countries in the Caribbean. The other two stops were in Belize followed by The Bahamas.

By Allan Brooks, JIS Senior Reporter