St Elizabeth, Jamaica – The Black River Hospital (BRH) in St Elizabeth has benefitted from donations aimed at improving healthcare in rural Jamaica. 

On Wednesday, January 12, the hospital received two phototherapy lamps for its Paediatric Unit from the District Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands and two bariatric wheelchairs for plus-sized patients from the We Care Social Outreach Development Ltd.

Consultant Pediatrician for the BRH Dr Aggrey Sajabi thanked the District Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons for donating the phototherapy lamps, which are used to treat severe jaundice in babies.

“We have had to transfer babies to other hospitals in the past because of the need for more lamps, so this donation will facilitate the vital treatment of these babies. We are grateful because now we are quite enabled to treat more children and put less burden on the regional hospital and allow them to concentrate on things that only they can do. We are a small hospital but we are extremely proud of the ability to be able to manage the majority of inborn babies and definitely to be self-sufficient” Dr Sajabi said.

Speaking about the donation of the bariatric wheelchairs, CEO for the hospital Diana Brown Miller explained that the wheelchairs that the hospital uses are of a standard size; however, when patients of a different size are to be transported, it presents challenges.

“When we have patients of plus-size, we have to use a stretcher; however, now that we have these wheelchairs, it will be easier for patients and staff to manage and transport. I want to thank the We Care Social Outreach Development Ltd for being one of the most consistent in supporting the facility with medical supplies and donations,” Brown Miller said.

She continued: “They have been donating to the hospital for several years and I also want to thank Kingsley Shipping Services for providing free shipping to the group for these items,” she said.