MAY PEN, Clarendon — Children at the paediatric ward of the May Pen Hospital and residents served by Pratville Health Centre in South Manchester will soon experience improved service.

A grant of US$2,500 from the Alcoa Foundation was presented by communication specialist Ealane Livingston Smith to paediatrician Dr Curtis Pryce and members of the hospital’s health and administrative staff recently.

The Alcoa In Motions (AIM) grant was given in recognition of the participation of Jamalco volunteers in a 5K run/walk through May Pen during Month of Service last October. The event was organised by Dr Pryce and members of the New Start Health Club based at the hospital. The objective was to raise funds to assist in purchasing much-needed equipment for the paediatric ward and to encourage participants to practise healthy lifestyles.

Jamalco’s volunteers decided to support the venture with the additional proviso that some of the AIM grant would go to assist in refurbishing Pratville Health Centre located in Jamalco’s mining operations area.

Dr Pryce thanked the Jamalco volunteers for their assistance noting that the US$1,500 “will help us to refurbish the chemotherapy unit and to purchase monitors for the ward. We are really grateful for your support”.

The remaining US$1,000 will go to Pratville Health Centre. The funds are being administered by the Southern Regional Health Foundation (SRHF).