THE Linstead Public Hospital (LPH) has received two new transport hydraulic stretchers to enhance the institution’s services.

The stretchers, which were purchased from proceeds garnered at last year’s staging of the Tru-Juice Cross Country 5K, were handed over to the institution Wednesday on the hospital’s grounds in St Catherine.Senior medical officer at the health care facility, Dr Katragadda Kotaiah, told the

Jamaica Observer that the equipment will enhance the comfort level of both staff and patients.“These are the modern kind of stretchers. They are automatic, they have attached fluid stands; so it will be more comfortable for us and for the patients. And they are sturdy,” he noted.“It is the first kind of those stretchers we have at this institution. Before, we had ordinary stretchers, which are not really of comfort. We need about five more or six more of these,” he continued.His colleague, medical officer Dr Tanesha Burke-Grant, who spoke of the hospital’s plight, was grateful for the equipment and expressed thanks to Peter McConnell, managing director at Tru-Juice.“I am so happy that we have this privilege to be in a partnership that has so many benefits for the hospital. It is a hospital that serves so many communities and often it is that you do not understand just how many resources we are lacking, and we have to do a lot of makeshift and, as we say, ‘turn our hands to make fashion’. And it is always a wonderful thing when we get the equipment that we need so that we can do what we need to do [to] serve our patients to the best of our ability and give them a real chance at getting the best possible medical care,” she said as she offered the vote of thanks on Wednesday.Underscoring her colleague’s call for more stretchers, she told the

Observer that the hospital also acts as a trauma centre, pointing out its proximity to the recently constructed north-south leg of Highway 2000.McConnell, in his address, said that this year’s Cross Country 5K, slated for June 4, will be a fun experience for all participants. Now in it’s fifth staging, McConnell, who also serves as chairman of LPH, expressed hope that the event will continue to provide assistance to the medical facility in years to come.“Tru-Juice is very, very proud of our hometown and we’re always happy to welcome and host the city folk to come out and enjoy the country. We’re proud of our home and heritage, and we’re also very proud to be associated with the Linstead Hospital because it is such an important institution to this area, touching the lives of so many people from Bog Walk, Linstead, Ewarton, Guys Hill, Riversdale, Wakefield, and all the districts in-between,” he stated.He urged community members and hospital staff to make an effort to participate in this year’s staging of the event.“Every year we try to do a little something different. We’re making some very slight changes to the course… just to keep it interesting, but as usual it is through the orchards, so it is good, pleasant scenery. It will be fun out there,” the chairman and managing director stated.“We hope to see everybody out, sweating and getting fit, contributing to the cause; and come out and have fun. It is a race but it’s not a race,” he stressed, adding that there is also a cycling element to the event.The Tru-Juice head pointed out that there is a 20K competition for mountain bikers. This year, registration is open to all individuals with an entry fee of $1,500 per person and $2,500 for premium parties. The deadline to register for the race is May 29.