Concerns about stroke outcomes of patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICH) at Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) prompted Sagicor Group Jamaica to include the entity among the three beneficiaries of the 2025 Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run scheduled for Sunday, February 16.

The signature fund-raising 5K run/walk aims to raise $115 million which will be split between the ICU, Father Ho Lung and Friends Foundation, and Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre.

Christopher Zacca, president and chief executive officer of Sagicor Group Jamaica and chair of Sagicor Foundation, told a recent Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange that KPH, which is a repeat beneficiary, was included because of its high needs profile.

“This year we actually kind of pivoted from a stroke focus and when we discussed with National Health Fund and other players in the public sector health system it was felt that KPH would be a good place to start to improve the stroke outcomes through their ICU,” Zacca explained.

According to consultant orthopaedic surgeon and senior medical officer Dr Rory Dixon, experts were concerned about the rate at which stroke patients have been recuperating.

“The major concern in that area is that they do not get rehabilitation in a timely manner. There is also a lack of awareness, for example, if somebody gets a stroke out in Black River versus St Ann’s Bay, the sensitisation and awareness that these persons can actually grow better if they get intensive rehabilitation is not there, so they just send them home once they are able to swallow. There is more that can be done,” Dixon said.

He noted that individuals can make a full rebound, depending on the severity of the stroke, but said “The rehabilitation can be maximised the earlier you get it going”.

Dr Christine Stephens, head of anaesthesia and intensive care at KPH, said the injection of funds would help the hospital fill several gaps.

“There are many different departments within the hospital and so right now we are hoping to get some much-needed equipment and resources to help us care for our patients. There is a massive amount of need and we always welcome private partnership and investment to help us realise our goals of care,” she said.

“We are hoping to get a few more beds; that’s a part of our needs list,” Stephens said.

Noting that the hospital is also struggling with space and staffing challenges which limit its capacity to take in patients, she pointed out, “anywhere in the world, critical care is going to be a triage resource, it’s not something that’s going to be available to all, it’s going to be available to who needs it most”.

“We are looking forward to this input…to help us get equipment that we need to manage in a better way, improve your outcome so that you don’t stall in your progress,” Stephens added.

The event is being sponsored by Walden University, Pan Jamaica Group Limited, Continental Baking Company Limited, and GraceKennedy Limited.

The run, now in its 27th year, has raised more than $750 million for health, child-related, and educational initiatives.

KPH, the oldest hospital in the island, is the largest multidisciplinary hospital in the government health service as well as the largest trauma centre in the public hospital system. It caters to more than 20,000 in-patients and 300,000 out-patients each year.