Noel Holmes Hospital gets gift of beds

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

The Noel Holmes Hospital in Lucea, Hanover, received a donation of 18 beds on January 31 from the Negril International Hospital (NIH) and the Vincent Hosang Family Foundation.

"This donation is a part of our humanitarian duty towards nation building," said Winston Wellington, chairman of the NIH. "Wherever we see a need and we are able to help, we most definitely will be doing so."

Wellington, who operates the Travellers Beach Resort in Negril, decided to establish the NIH after seeing numerous cases of persons dying - especially after accidents - because they were not able to get immediate medical attention.

"The plan is to build a full-scale wellness hospital with emergency and trauma-care services to help treat accident victims and lessen the death statistics," said Wellington.

Until the NIH comes to fruition, Wellington plans to assist institutions like the Noel Holmes Hospital to upgrade their capabilities.

"Until the NIH is fully operational, the medical equipment and supplies we received will be donated to hospitals across the island," said Wellington. "We recognise the need to show true solidarity and oneness for the health and the care of the Jamaican people."

OTHER DONATION

Prior to the donation to the Noel Holmes Hospital, the NIH and the Vincent Hosang Family Foundation donated 25 beds to the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital in Westmoreland.

For the Noel Holmes Hospital, the gift of the beds could not have come at a more opportune time. According to Yvonne Hamilton, acting deputy director of nursing services at the institution, they were immediately used to replace some old beds at the facility.

"The gifts are comfortable. They are occupied and used everywhere, especially in the maternity ward … . The mothers appreciate the comfort," said Hamilton. "The new beds have replaced the old ones and fit the purpose. They are manual, and I am really pleased for that."

Hamilton said the hospital is now embarking on a five-year development plan, which calls for medical equipment. She says the list of needs will be shared with the NIH to see if they can offer any further help.

The representatives of the Vincent Hosang Family Foundation, who include Davon Crump, president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce, say they are fully committed to maintaining the partnership with the NIH with regard to the Lucea-based hospital.

"In the near future, we will again join forces with the Vincent Hosang Family Foundation in providing two linear accelerator cancer machines to treat cancer-ridden patients," said Wellington.