Savanna-La-Mar Public General Hospital CEO Expresses Gratitude to Partners

Chief Executive Officer of the Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital in Westmoreland, Roan Grant, is expressing gratitude to several local and international partners whose assistance have been instrumental in helping the facility recover following the passage of hurricane melissa.

Speaking in an interview with JIS News, Mr. Grant said support from various organisations have helped to strengthen the hospital’s ability to continue delivering services, while infrastructure restoration works progress.

Among the most impactful contribution was the support provided by Team Rubicon, a non – profit group from the United States which helped to ease congestion in the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) during the critical post-disaster period.

He explained that the team established a temporary primary care operation at the entrance of the Accident and Emergency Department, to treat patients with less critical conditions.

“They set up a replica of what primary care should be right at the front of our A&E. They took on persons needing simple care such as lacerations, prescription refills and pressure checks,” he explained.

Mr. Grant noted that the initiative significantly reduced the pressure on the hospital’s emergency services.

“They eased the overcrowding in the A&E department… and when they left, we actually felt it because everybody just kept coming back to the A& E,” he added.

The CEO also praised the Barbados Defence Force Field Hospital, which provided temporary medical support while upgrade works were being undertaken at the facility.

“We actually used them for about two and a half weeks to facilitate admitted patients and observation patients while we refreshed the A& E department,” Mr. Grant said.

He also highlighted the contribution of several donors that have assisted the hospital with much-needed equipment and resources.

Mr. Grant informed that the Shaggy Foundation donated 80 hospital beds, enabling the facility to replace outdated beds across several wards.

Additional support was also provided through a donation from the Bounty Killer Foundation and We The Best Foundation, which contributed approximately $2.6 million towards diagnostic equipment.

“They gave us funds which bought some handheld devices for the medical ward, paediatric ward and A&E. That initiative aided us in terms of ascertaining diagnosis really quick, especially in A&E and paediatrics,” he added.

He emphasised that the support from these organisations has been critical to the hospital’s recovery and continued operations.

Mr. Grant expressed gratitude to all partners who have assisted the institution, as it continues to rebuild and work to enhance healthcare delivery for residents of Westmoreland and neighbouring parishes.