ST JAMES, Jamaica (JIS) — The Paediatric Unit at the Black River Hospital in St Elizabeth has been refurbished, with a lounge for mothers added, which will enable the facility to be certified as a baby-friendly institution.

The project was carried out through a donation of $4 million from the Sagicor Foundation and included adding more beds and chairs, a refrigerator, and painting of the area.

An arterial blood gas analyzer, which measures the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in babies and children, was also provided for the unit, which was officially reopened on last Thursday by Minister of Health, Dr Christopher Tufton.

He commended Sagicor for donating the funds for the project, which came from the proceeds of the financial institution’s Sigma Corporate Run held earlier this year.

He said the contribution will improve the care provided to babies and children as well as raise the standard of the hospital.

 “This contribution to the Black River Hospital’s Paediatric Unit is significant and underscores the importance of good corporate citizenship and the need for stakeholder participation in aiding critical areas of development, including health and education,” Dr Tufton said.

The minister noted that the annual Sigma fund-raising run has consistently supported the country’s health system through donations to various hospitals across the island.

He said the event also promotes physical activity in order to prevent health conditions.

“Increasingly, we in public healthcare must spend time in encouraging

Jamaicans to seek preventative measures in securing health and wellness, even before we begin to start talking about curative measures,” he pointed out.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Floyd Green stressed the need for more public-private partnership in the health sector.

Green, who is member of Parliament for South West St Elizabeth, where the hospital is located, said the contributions of companies like Sagicor “impact in a significant way”.

“I want to thank Sagicor for the assistance they have given to the institution,” he said.

Executive vice president, Sagicor Group, Willard Brown, said that the financial institution was happy to contribute to the project, which will enhance the care of babies and children.

Chief executive officer of the Black River Hospital, Diana Brown-Miller, expressed appreciation to Sagicor for the timely and well-needed support.

She said the work undertaken would provide “a private, secure and comfortable area for mothers to breastfeed”.

Dr Tufton was joined by Green and representatives from Sagicor and the Black River Hospital in cutting the ribbon to open the Paediatric Unit and the unveiling of a plaque dedicating the facility, after which they toured the unit.

They also unveiled directional signage on the grounds of the hospital that were erected through the proceeds of the Sigma Corporate Run.