CHASE Fund gifts ambulance to St Elizabeth Infirmary

Western Bureau:

Wilford ‘Billy’ Heaven, the chief executive officer of the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund, says infirmed residents in St Elizabeth and Portland will now benefit from swift and secure transportation to medical facilities, thanks to newly procured ambulances.

Speaking at the official handover of the first ambulance to the St Elizabeth Infirmary in Santa Cruz recently, Heaven said the initiative was of much significance as it relates to improving healthcare accessibility.

According to Heaven, the ambulance, which cost J$13 million, will ensure that vulnerable residents receive timely and comfortable medical transport, which fits into CHASE’s mandate of enhancing community well-being.

“This occasion represents more than just the handing over of an ambulance, it reflects how much we care. It signifies the level of service we wish to provide for the most vulnerable in our society,” said Heaven.

Heaven further noted that the two new ambulances are part of a joint project between the CHASE Fund and the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, which is aimed at equipping the is land’s infirmaries with their own ambulances. This initiative, which comes at a total cost of $33.6 million, will allow residents to be transported to hospitals and other medical facilities for regular evaluations.

In stressing the critical nature of the project, Heaven pointed out that infirmed residents often face multiple health challenges requiring timely and specialised care.

“This ambulance is intended to ensure that we can provide services as needed, in a safe and reliable mode of transportation, that is readily available,” he explained. “The CHASE Fund is always pleased to play a role in assisting the less fortunate in our society, and the provision of this ambulance will significantly enhance operations at the infirmary.”

Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie highlighted that before the handover in St Elizabeth, St James was the only infirmary with an ambulance.

“For the first time since our infirmaries were established, every infirmary in Jamaica will be equipped with an ambulance to support staff and provide essential services for residents. Today, we are here in St Elizabeth to hand over the first one, with the second ambulance set to be delivered to Portland shortly,” said McKenzie.

According to McKenzie, nearly all of Jamaica’s 13 infirmaries are located some distance away from public hospitals. He noted that the St Elizabeth Infirmary faces a particularly significant challenge due to its location in Santa Cruz, requiring residents to travel to either the Black River Hospital or Mandeville Regional Hospital for emergency medical care.

“So far, we have not had any incidents resulting in loss of life. However, in an institution where 99 per cent of the residents are elderly – many of whom have mobility issues – it is extremely difficult to transport them in a Probox motor vehicle or any other makeshift option in the event of a medical emergency,” he argued.

Black River Mayor Richard Solomon, the chairman of the St Elizabeth Municipal Corporation, said he was quite pleased that infirmed residents now have a dedicated means of transportation at their disposal.

“There comes a time when we, too, may become vulnerable. As such, we must always ensure that provisions are in place to support the less fortunate,” said Solomon.

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