MANDEVILLE, Manchester — For the first time, patients utilising health-care services at Mandeville Regional Hospital will benefit from life-saving equipment specialising in gastrointestinal and urological conditions.

This was made possible following the donation of $66-million worth of equipment, including an Olympus GI Endoscopy and Storz Urology Laparoscopy system, by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in collaboration with Food For the Poor last Friday.

Surgical consultant at the hospital Dr Andrew Josephs told the Jamaica Observer that use of equipment will bring about efficiency in endoscopy for the first time at the facility.

“For us, we didn’t have any endoscopy equipment…[Before], the patients had to seek endoscopy procedures privately, so this is the first time we are having equipment in the public system at Mandeville Regional,” he said.

He explained what the endoscopy equipment is used for.

“It is a video camera that is attached to a flexible tube or scope that is essentially passed through either the mouth or anus to evaluate the colon or to evaluate the stomach and the upper bowel and the supporting adjuncts to that,” Dr Josephs said.

He is calling for a separate gastrointestinal unit to be set up at the hospital.

“Right now we are using theatre facilities to help but the ideal set-up would be a physical site where the equipment is housed so the patients come in, they are seen, and admitted by a specific set of nurses. We go through the protocols to get their tests done, there is a recovery area, so it is a separate unit essentially where the procedures are carried out rather than using the main operating theatre where we have to compete for time with other cases,” he said.

Elder Paul Sutherland from the church, through a representative, said the equipment brings about hope for the future for those who will benefit.

“A new piece of equipment may last for a time, but the sense of dignity, self-reliance and support that comes from knowing others care builds long-term endurance…When we create opportunities to offer tools that empower people to relieve suffering we are not only meeting today’s needs, but also leaving a foundation for tomorrow’s progress,” he said.

Director at Food For the Poor Jean Lowrie-Chin labelled the equipment as life-saving and said it will make an awesome difference to Mandeville Regional Hospital.

“In the speedy diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal and urological conditions such procedures will save the lives of the patients here as we well know that early intervention can well make all the difference in treatment outcomes. These are worthy additions to this premier institution. The Mandeville Regional Hospital, which is dedicated to providing exceptional patient care and pioneering clinical excellence and nurturing surgical advancement,” she said.

Chief executive officer at the hospital Alwyn Miller said the equipment is more than just a gift.

“For us as health-care workers at this hospital, we understand that it is our responsibility to protect these equipment and preserve the life of the equipment for the benefit of our patients,” said Miller as he pointed out that the church had previously donated stretchers to the hospital.

“The stretchers have gone a long way in helping us to serve the public. Prior to the arrival of those stretchers I don’t want to tell you the challenges that we faced, but I will say the stretchers have offered significantly more comfort to our patients and significantly more efficiency to our staff in serving the patients,” said Miller.

“Can you imagine the difference between our doctors and nurses having to bend down to serve a patient as opposed to standing up? It provides much relief for their backs…so I use this opportunity to thank the church for these gifts,” added Miller.