Rotary governor calls for nationwide defibrillator rollout to save lives
Published:Thursday | October 16, 2025 | 12:05 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Professor William Aiken, district governor of Rotary International District 7020, is calling for the widespread installation of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) across Jamaica, noting that the life-saving devices could significantly reduce sudden cardiac deaths in public spaces.
An AED is a portable device that analyses a person’s heart rhythm and delivers an electric shock if a life-threatening irregularity, such as cardiac arrest, is detected. The shock helps the heart re-establish a normal rhythm. The device also gives clear voice and visual instructions to guide rescuers through each step. When used promptly with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), it can dramatically increase the chance of survival before emergency medical help arrives.
Speaking at Tuesday’s weekly luncheon of the Rotary Club of Montego Bay, Aiken described cardiovascular disease as “the leading cause of mortality across the Caribbean”, underscoring the urgent need for a coordinated national response.
“Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in our community. We have young athletes, police recruits, nurses, and even doctors collapsing from cardiac events, and, too often, no one around them knows how to help,” he said.
Installation in high-traffic areas
Aiken said many of these fatalities could be prevented if members of the public were adequately trained in CPR and if defibrillators were accessible in high-traffic locations such as airports, transportation hubs, schools and sporting venues.
“If you walk through the Miami International Airport, you will see AED devices positioned at intervals,” he said. “We want to see that in Jamaica. Every place where large numbers of people congregate should have a defibrillator, properly maintained and accessible to the public.”
Aiken said the Rotary movement, through its Rotary Foundation funding mechanisms, is encouraging clubs across the region to use their district and global grants to procure and install AEDs in communities most at risk.
“We are asking clubs to utilise Rotary Foundation funds to install defibrillators so that, when someone collapses, there is a real chance of survival. The science shows that immediate defibrillation can double or even triple the odds of survival from sudden cardiac arrest,” he noted.
The initiative forms part of District 7020’s broader health campaign to increase public awareness of cardiovascular risk factors and strengthen community resilience through education and preparedness.
“We want every Rotarian, rotaractor, and interactor to know how to perform CPR. It could be a family member, a colleague, or someone in the street, if you know how to resuscitate and a defibrillator is available, you could literally save a life,” he said.
Cardiovascular deaths
The medical specialist, a urologist by profession, noted that while prostate cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Jamaican men, cardiovascular deaths outstrip all other causes combined, affecting both men and women at alarming rates.
“This is not a problem confined to the elderly. We have seen young, otherwise healthy individuals, athletes and professionals, succumb to sudden cardiac arrest simply because no immediate intervention was available,” he said.
Partnerships for training
Aiken also encouraged the club, led by President Lamar James, to support Rotary’s goal of partnering with entities such as the Heart Foundation of Jamaica and the Jamaica Red Cross to facilitate CPR training and maintain AED devices islandwide.
The proposed initiative aligns with Rotary’s international focus on building healthier communities through sustainable interventions, which Aiken believes could transform Jamaica’s public health infrastructure.
“Our vision is that, when someone collapses in Half-Way Tree, Montego Bay, or Negril, a defibrillator is within reach and a trained individual knows how to use it,” he said. “That is how we measure impact, not in speeches or ceremonies, but in lives saved.”
Meanwhile, James is encouraging all clubs to adopt AED installation projects as flagship initiatives, leveraging partnerships with local businesses, hospitals and civic organisations as the Rotary year advances.
“This is not just a Rotary issue. It is a public health imperative. If we can place defibrillators in every major public space in Jamaica, we will not only save lives but also demonstrate the power of service through action,” he said.