MANDEVILLE, Manchester — With the recent purchase of $7-million worth of life-saving equipment for the Mandeville Regional Hospital through funding from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), administrators and medical staff say there will be enhanced service at the health-care facility.

Chief executive officer at the facility Alwyn Miller said the donation was one of the most significant since the onset of the novel coronavirus pandemic two years ago.

“It has come at the right time in terms of helping us as a hospital to respond, so we are indeed grateful to the Tourism Enhancement Fund for donating and assisting the hospital with these equipment,” he said.

The equipment, which were handed over to the facility on Tuesday, include bacterial/viral filters, catheters, stretchers, oxygen flowmeters, a blood analyser, and cartridges.

Senior Medical Officer Dr Everton McIntosh pointed out that the blood analyser has tremendous use in emergency cases.

“The technology now allows for a number of tests to be done at the patient’s bedside, so you get an instant result especially in critical care or in the accident and emergency department where you need quick answers in terms of what is happening with the patient,” he said.

TEF Chairman Godfrey Dyer explained that social worker Sandra Miller-Hall advocated for the hospital to receive the supplies.

He said Miller-Hall facilitated communication between the hospital’s executive and the TEF.

TEF executive director Dr Carey Wallace said the support from the fund will boost health care in the southern region.

“Enhancing destination Jamaica means enhancing the facilities, especially the health services on the island, because a destination that our visitors choose to travel to must have that assurance that, God forbid, if anything should go wrong then there is an efficiency in service in ensuring that they are safe and healthy,” he said.

“The surveys have shown that most of our visitors travelling anywhere in the world, health and safety have become more important to them as one of the things that they consider when booking a destination,” he added.

He pointed out that the hospital serves resort areas.

“We are quite aware that Mandeville (hospital) supports the Treasure Beach area and the south coast tourism opportunities in general,” he said.

Chairman of the Southern Regional Health Authority Wayne Chen said the support from the TEF is a very valuable contribution.

“It is well known that central Jamaica centred around Mandeville has become a retirement destination for many Jamaicans who have lived abroad. It is also a destination for their family and friends who come to visit. We have many Jamaicans in the Diaspora who visit this part of the country frequently and contribute significantly to economic and to social life in central Jamaica,” he said.

“The ability to respond to our citizens, yes, first and foremost, but also to place ourselves as a place where visitors can come and enjoy good healthcare facilities,” he added.