KINGSTON, Jamaica — As hospitals in the north and west continue to reel from the effects of Hurricane Melissa, the Sandals Foundation has injected $6-million worth of equipment and resources to help the Bustamante Hospital for Children accept and care for the critically ill neonates, babies, and children who are being transferred to Kingston.

A suite of machines and supplies, including a neonatal ventilator, infusion pump, blood gas analyser, catheter, blood pressure machine, humidifier, nebuliser/ suction machine, IV Pole, exam light and more, have been purchased by the philanthropic arm of Sandals Resorts International – building the capacity of the island’s only specialist paediatric hospital.

“Four of our island’s major paediatric centres have been affected by the hurricane, so here at the Bustamante Hospital for Children, we have made a commitment that we will take the paediatric surgical patients, because we have the surgical specialists, the neonates, and any other sub-specialties such as cardiology, renal patients, and more,” said Chief Medical Officer at the Bustamante Hospital for Children Dr Michelle-Ann Dawson.

“It’s going to be difficult for parents because some may have to be separated temporarily from their families, but we are also looking at how we can support the parents with care packages, with information, dialogue, and psychological support,” continued Dawson.

Within days of the island being hit by the category 5 storm, members of the philanthropic organisation were in dialogue with the Ministry of Health and Wellness to determine critical resources needed to strengthen the services and capacity that were anticipated.

Executive Director at the Sandals Foundation, Heidi Clake, said, “Our children and healthcare are two areas that resonate with us, especially in times of emergency. Being able to work alongside the Ministry of Health and our doctors and nurses that are working round the clock to serve those most affected – we are very pleased to be able to hand over this equipment that we hope will help in the weeks ahead until our other hospitals are able to recover.”

Within hours of receiving the equipment from local suppliers, Jamaica Hospital Supplies and Medical Link, Head of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Dr Carmen ‘Cindy’ Rhoden, reported success in caring for a patient that was transferred from the west.

“We are happy that with your donations yesterday, we were able to give the best care to a preterm neonate 26 weeks gestation weighing only 830g that we accepted last night,” she said.

The Bustamante Hospital for Children is the only specialist paediatric hospital in the English-speaking Caribbean and Jamaica’s major referral hospital. The institution, which serves patients 0-12 years old, provides a wide range of services including cardiology, neurology, asthma/respiratory, nephrology, neurosurgery, urology, ophthalmology, cardio-thoracic, and dental.

For Dr Sharon McLean-Salmon, paediatric haematologist oncologist, the donated supplies will also enhance the care of patients with cancers and serious blood disorders.

“We have received two equipment which are essential for our team in terms of managing patients who are affected with cancer and who need intense monitoring to ensure that they are stable and doing well while receiving lifesaving treatment.”

According to the United Nations, around 1.5 million Jamaicans have been impacted by the Category 5 storm, with seven parishes being the most significantly affected. The Bustamante Hospital in Kingston will provide a place of refuge for patients from the paediatric centres at the Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital in Westmoreland, the Black River Hospital in St Elizabeth, Cornwall Regional Hospital in St James, and the Falmouth Hospital in Trelawny.

Representatives from the Sandals Foundation, the Bustamante Hospital for Children, Medical Link delivery team share a moment with a portion of the suite of equipment donated by the Sandals Foundation to build the capacity of the hospital to accept and care for critically ill patients being transferred from western affected hospitals.