Sickle Cell Unit Gets Wellness Bench

A wellness bench has been installed at the Sickle Cell Unit at the University of the West Indies (UWI), providing a calming space for staff and patients to pause, relax, and reset.

The bench was funded and donated through the collaborative efforts of three sickle cell support groups – Shak’s Hope Foundation, My Friend Jen, and Warriors Unite JA.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony on February 11, State Minister in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Hon. Krystal Lee, said it was the first bench to be fully sponsored by stakeholders under the Ministry’s ‘Do Your Share’ campaign.

The initiative encourages civic engagement and public-private partnership in creating safe spaces to support mental wellness. State Minister Lee underscored that health extends beyond the treatment of illnesses to include the creation of environments that nurture emotional well-being, dignity and resilience.

She said that the installation of the bench at the Sickle Cell Unit will provide a quiet space for rest, reflection, and supportive conversation, which is an important complement to the compassionate clinical care that is offered at the facility. “The Wellness Bench initiative reflects our philosophy that health is not only about treating illness but also about supporting mental and emotional well-being,” the State Minister said.

“These benches are more than pieces of furniture; they are symbols, reminding us to pause, to breathe, to reflect, and to care for our minds as well as our bodies”, she pointed out.

State Minister Lee commended the three donors for their generosity and vision, highlighting their contribution as a demonstration of the power of community action and shared responsibility.

“The Government cannot do everything alone. Initiatives like this show what can be achieved when civil society organisations and community groups work alongside the public health system to create meaningful change,” she added.