FALMOUTH, Trelawny — The Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) recently received a gift of an audiological booth, equipped with an audiometer, courtesy of visiting Rotarians from Texas, USA, making the facility the only public hospital able to conduct hearing tests.

Dr Winston Jedusing, head of the ear, nose, and throat department at CRH, expressed gratitude for the gift.“Audiometry is the process of testing the function of the ear to see if the person is hearing or not. And that test is currently only available at private practices. In terms of public, there is no hospital currently that does hearing testing,” Dr Jedusing told the Jamaica Observer West, shortly after the donation.“This is great because now it allows us another level of expertise and test to the patients who are coming in, which will facilitate us rendering better health care.”The hearing booth was in addition to the over 100 boxes of donated items, which were transported on the Liberty of the Seas cruise vessel by Rotarians from Texas to the Falmouth Cruise Port recently. The boxes included a variety of much-needed equipment and supplies for the Cornwall Regional Hospital.The over 200 Rotarians who accompanied the boxes were in the island for an International Day of Service.About 14 years ago, Regina Atwell Edwards, a Rotarian from Texas, came to Jamaica on holiday and visited the Rotary Club of Montego Bay.After her return home, her club, the Rotary Club of Carrolton — Farmers Branch, District 5810 l, partnered with the Rotary Club of Montego Bay in several community projects.A bond was subsequently formed between the two clubs which resulted in joint projects, including the provision of wheelchairs for many needy, disabled individuals, as well as supplies for children’s homes.When District 58101 decided to hold their 2017 conference on the Liberty of the Seas, whose itinerary included Falmouth, the entire district, including Carrolton-Farmers’ Branch club, decided to become involved in Rotary projects in Jamaica on Thursday, April 27.During the visit, the Rotarians had the opportunity to tour Bogue Hill Primary, Tower Hill Primary, the Montego Bay Learning Centre, and Blessed Assurance Children’s Home in St James; St Peter’s Early Childhood Institution and Wendell Stewart Basic School in Trelawny. During their visits, school supplies and other donations were presented.