Over 40 health care workers drawn from across all staffing categories (nurses, doctors, administration, paramedic, and maintenance) of the St Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital were treated to a sumptuous lunch onboard Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise liner, Wonder of the Season December 1.

Docked at the Falmouth Pier last Thursday on its inaugural voyage to Jamaica, Wonder of the Seas stands at 1,188 feet long, 210 feet wide, and with a gross tonnage of 236,857, making it the world’s largest cruise ship.

The lunch outing is one of many ways the hospital and the Northeast Regional Health Authority’s top management is seeking to boost morale, by recognising and showing appreciation to healthcare workers for their commitment to providing quality health services, especially for their heroism during the tumultuous COVID-19 pandemic, and in treating the staggering number of patients involved in motor vehicle accidents in the parish.

Chief Executive Officer Dennis Morgan, said “the entire staff of St Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital are all deserving of our recognition and appreciation. Team members feted onboard the ship are representatives of the entire staffing population of our hospital, and we are very much appreciative of the invite. Unfortunately, not all our team members could be accommodated with such a generous gesture made possible by Ms Joy Roberts, her team at Jamaica Vacations “JAMVAC” (an agency of the Ministry of Tourism), Captain Loy and the crew of Wonder of the Seas.”

“This support from Mr Morgan, our CEO, Ms Roberts and her JAMVAC team, Captain Henrik Loy and his Wonder of the Seas’ crew show that they care about the well-being of healthcare workers, and we are moved by their expression of gratitude and act of kindness shown towards us,” said Dr Camalee Armstrong, senior resident in the hospital’s surgical department.

“Healthcare workers at hospitals and other health facilities are partners in Jamaica’s tourism eco-system. And so it is vitally important that we let them know how grateful we are for the service they provide to our fellow Jamaicans and visitors to our beautiful island,” added Jamaica Vacations’ Executive Director Joy Roberts.

The hospital CEO also stated, “members of the wider public can show their appreciation to team members of the St Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital, and healthcare workers in general, in many positive and morale-boosting ways. For instance, they can continue getting the COVID-19 vaccine shots, including boosters, obey speed limits, avoid drunken driving, and exercise a little more patience when visiting our healthcare facilities.”