The paediatric department at the ailing Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) in St James was recently presented with 10 incubators valued at over $6.5 million by the Rotary Club of Montego Bay Sunrise.

Head of department for the paediatric ward and special care nursery Dr Carlene Grant Davis in accepting the gift pointed out that the incubators will be occupied “as soon as they reach the ward.

“The capacity of our special care nursery is about 24 babies at present, and at any one time about 10 to 12 are premature or babies who need the incubators for one reason or another. So, as soon as these incubators get to the ward, they are going to be occupied totally,” Dr Grant Davis assured, adding that the incubators could not have come at a better time.

“The timing for your delivery is also perfect, because beginning August and more so September to December, we are in what we call the peak period — a lot of new-year babies. Between September and December, all of the new-year babies are born. And so, our admission rates are higher. Normally we have full occupancy during those times, and so I must emphasise that as soon as they get there (on the ward) they are going to be fully occupied,” she explained.

She pointed out that the incubators will be used to assist newborns in maintaining their body temperature, noting that babies, and especially premature babies, are unable to properly maintain their body temperature.

Project chair and past Assistant Governor of Rotary Club of Montego Bay Sunrise Manoj Ramchandani said that both the hospital and the club have a similar vision of “making the world a better place, even though this is undertaken differently”.

He noted that the club assisted the hospital with the revamping of its ophthalmology department over a year ago to the tune of over $10 million.

President of the club Mashario Bisasor, who pointed to the importance of the hospital having the best equipment, which will enable it to offer the best service, made a pledge to continue supporting the CRH.

Chairman of the CRH board Dale Delapenha pointed to the importance of public/private partnerships since Government alone is unable to deliver the quality of health care needed in the region.

And Chief Executive Officer at the Cornwall Regional Hospital Anthony Smikle thanked the club for their support over the years. He noted that with the encouragement of the board chairman, the equipment will not only be put to good use, but there will also be the implementation of a maintenance programme.