MANDEVILLE, Manchester — The nine-member Manchester Wellness Foundation was recently hailed for the work it has been doing over the past 14 years to build the capacity of some of the health care institutions in Central Jamaica.

A director of the foundation, Myrna Bailey, told a gathering for a donation to the Mandeville Regional Hospital last Wednesday that to date “in excess” of $10 million has been raised to support that cause.The latest contribution was equipment valued at $823,000 for the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Department at Mandeville Regional.Hospital administrators say that the new equipment which includes grasping forceps, suction aspirators and rigid paediatric oesophagoscope will enable for the first time care for children that was previously not possible in the ENT Department.One such situation, according to Consultant in the ENT Department Dr Andrew Manning, is when children ingest “foreign bodies” such as coins, bleach or kerosene oil.“In our population, unfortunately, we still see too many children with caustic or corrosive (ingestions) in the oesaphagus,’ he said.Manning said in such cases it is important to assess the situation quickly in order for the other necessary steps to be taken to prevent prolonged implications.Michael Bent, regional director for the Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA) emphasised the invaluable support that the Manchester Wellness Foundation is making to have the public health care system at its optimum.“As a (regional) organisation we have put together a retooling plan for our facilities and we are cognisant that we will not be able to fund all of these through funding from the Ministry of Finance and the Government coffers. We want to have in all our facilities reliable equipment and instruments. Equipment and instruments that are efficient and also cutting edge. With this contribution of these equipment to the ENT Unit it is allowing us to (achieve) our goals and fulfilling our retooling plan,” he said.Bent said that he is aware of the “red tape” or “cast irons” which make donations sometimes challenging and commended the Manchester Wellness Foundation — which he said is “small” but “powerful” for its continued support despite the odds.The Manchester Wellness Foundation began in 2003.Bailey said that it was founded on a call from former Minister of Health and Member of Parliament for Central Manchester John Junor that organised groups be formed to assist the public health care system in the parish.Through the Manchester Wellness Foundation the ENT Department at Mandeville Regional Hospital has also seen improvements to benefit adults.— Alicia Sutherland