Twelve hospitals across the island have

received medical equipment valued at more than $2 million for the treatment of

patients with conditions that impair their breathing.

The 14 Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure

(BPAP) machines, donated by the Jamaicans Abroad Helping Jamaicans at Home

(JAHJAH) Foundation, were presented to the institutions during a ceremony at the

Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston on Tuesday (January 21).

BPAP supplies pressurised air into the

airways to open the lungs, thereby making breathing easier. It is beneficial

for patients suffering from sleep apnoea, and respiratory conditions such as

pneumonia and asthma.

The beneficiary institutions are the Black

River Hospital, St. Elizabeth; Spanish Town Hospital, St. Catherine; Cornwall

Regional Hospital, St. James; Kingston Public Hospital, Kingston; May Pen

Hospital, Clarendon; Mandeville Regional Hospital and Percy Junior Hospital,

Manchester; St. Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital, St. Ann; Falmouth Hospital,

Trelawny; Princess Margaret Hospital, St. Thomas; Savanna-la-Mar Hospital, Westmoreland;

and the National Chest Hospital, St. Andrew.

Accident and Emergency Consultant at the

Kingston Public Hospital, Dr. Hugh Wong, expressed gratitude, noting the

machines will go a long way in the management of patients with acute

respiratory illnesses.

“With the BPAP machines, we will decrease

the number of patients who require intensive care,” he said.

Senior Medical Officer at the National

Chest Hospital, Dr. Terry Baker, pointed out that the equipment is useful for

patients who have underlying medical conditions that can affect the heart.

“It has proven to reduce the need for

intensive care unit (ICU) admission without compromising the care of patients,”

she noted.

Chief Executive Officer of the JAHJAH, Dr.

Trevor Dixon, for his part, said the diaspora group is committed to the

development of Jamaica through contributions to health, social services, and

education.

“We all want to see a healthy, safe and

productive Jamaica,” he said.

JAHJAH is a non-profit organisation that has been participating in the upliftment of Jamaica since 2007.

— JIS