MANCHESTER, Jamaica (JIS) — The Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund has invested $3.3 billion in the development of the health sector over its 15 years of existence.

Chief Executive Officer of the Fund, William ‘Billy’ Heaven, said the funds have been spent on the construction and upgrading of health facilities, promoting a healthy lifestyle, training of personnel, research, and cancer treatment, among other areas.

He said the fund has established guidelines for assistance, with consideration given to how many people will benefit from the project, how the project will increase access to and impact the delivery of healthcare, how the project will improve the efficiency of the health system, how it will reduce patient wait time, and affordability of the service to the end user.

He informed that overall, the fund has provided $17 billion for projects in the areas of early-childhood education, arts and culture, health and sports.

Heaven was speaking during a ceremony for the official handover of a new $4-million anaesthetic machine at Mandeville Regional Hospital in Manchester yesterday.

CHASE provided $2.2 million towards the acquisition of the state-of-the-art- equipment, with the remainder of the funds coming from the Rotary Club of Mandeville and students of the Church Teachers’ College, which contributed the $100,000 raised from its annual 5K run/walk.

Heaven said the fund has spent some $82 million at the Mandeville Regional Hospital to date. Chairman of the Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA), Wayne Chen, said the anaesthetic machine will make a “significant difference”.,p> The piece of equipment is expected to increase the number of surgeries performed at the hospital annually from 4,000 to 8,000.

Chen commended the various partners for their support to the hospital.

“I urge you to continue to give and do what you can. Your contribution is very much appreciated,” he noted.

Also present at the handover were Chief Executive Officer, Mandeville Regional Hospital, Alwyn Miller; consultant and head of the anaesthetics department at the hospital, Dr Leighton Wynter; Rotary District Governor, Dr Patrick Adizua; students from the Church Teachers’ College and members of the Rotary Club of Mandeville.