Their Excellencies Donate Medical Items to Bustamante Children’s Hospital

Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen and Lady Allen, have donated medical items to the Bustamante Hospital for Children.

The donation, which includes two blood pressure machines, a weighing scale, and a nebuliser, were presented during a visit to the facility on Wednesday (December 5), where Their Excellencies also presented gifts to patients and staff at the hospital.

The G-G explained that the items were obtained through the efforts of the King’s House staff.

“We are just the facilitators, but when we see the joy of the parents and patients, and the practitioners, we can only thank God for the little effort that we put in,” he said.

The G-G, during a stop at the Learning and Activity Centre, told the patients that “it is always a pleasure for us to come and see you little ones,” adding that it is even more pleasing to see the children receiving medical treatment while learning continues.

He mentioned two former patients, who sat the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) hospitalised, with one passing for The Queen’s School in St. Andrew, and the other for the Hampton School in St. Elizabeth.

“We are very proud of their achievement… and that they did not allow adversity to interrupt their education,” he said.

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Senior Medical Officer (SMO) at the hospital, Dr. Michelle-Ann Richards-Dawson, expressed gratitude for the donation, particularly the nebuliser.

She noted that the facility treats several children with asthma and other respiratory conditions “and the more machines we have means that we can provide a more efficient service to our patients”.

“We are extremely grateful,” she added, while appealing for increased private-sector support.

Dr. Richards-Dawson lauded Lady Allen’s support for the Learning and Activity Centre, noting that her advocacy “has allowed for the fixing up of this beautiful environment,” to ensure that children who are at the hospital for long periods do not fall behind in their studies.

Meanwhile, parent Amy Casanova, told JIS News that the visit by Their Excellencies, has helped to “lift the spirits” of the children.

She said that her daughter, who was recently admitted to the hospital, is receiving “excellent care and I am really thankful.”

The Bustamante Hospital is the only specialist paediatric facility in the English-speaking Caribbean, catering to the medical needs of children in Jamaica and the wider region up to 12 years old.