REAFFIRMING its commitment to supporting paediatric cardiac care in the region, Chain of Hope UK handed over a donation of essential medical equipment valued at US$152,000 to the Bustamante Hospital for Children (BHC).

On Friday Chain of Hope Jamaica facilitated the handover of one echo machine valued US$65,000; one ECG machine valued US$30,000; two diathermy machines valued US$24,000; five defibrillators valued US$30,000; and one Sonosite machine valued US$3,000.

“It’s heart work; an ongoing labour of love,” said chair of the Chain of Hope Jamaica Diane Edwards.

“There is a need as about two per cent of every population will have congenital cardiac problems in their children. We need to continually support because this is an ongoing problem.

“This cardiac centre is really the focus of paediatric cardiac operations in Jamaica and what we’re really proud and excited about is that we’re building a sustainable programme incorporating local world-class surgeons like consultant paediatric cardiologist and head of Cardiology Department Dr Sharonne Forrester; consultant cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Sherard Little; and paediatrician/cardiologist Dr Tamra Tomlinson-Morris as well as the training of the nurses,” Edwards said at the handover ceremony.

She underscored that Chain of Hope UK is proud of its more than 20-year partnership with BHC and its ongoing support through its partner Chain of Hope Jamaica in expanding the hospital’s cardiac programme.

“This collaboration has enabled the delivery of life-saving cardiac care to countless children, and the organisation remains steadfast in ensuring this vital work continues amidst the aftermath of Hurricane [Melissa],” added Edwards.

In the meantime Dr Tomlinson-Morris said the donation is extremely important.

“This gift from Chain of Hope helps us to manage our patients both in the hospital as well as outside of the hospital, especially post-Hurricane Melissa. We’re actually able to go out with the portable machine and make diagnoses and assist with management of patients and probably stabilise them before they come into Bustamante Hospital,” Dr Tomlinson-Morris explained.

“The ECG machines — although people are more familiar with holes in the heart, electrical problems of the heart are quite common in children — are extremely useful in making a diagnosis that helps us to manage the patients in the cardiac department and across the hospital,” added Dr Tomlinson-Morris.

General manager of Chain of Hope Jamaica Nola Phillpotts Brown assured the gathering that the organisation, and its international body, is committed to provide tangible support to the hospital, the children it serves to continue treatment as well as helping Jamaica recover and rebuild in the wake of Melissa.

“The passage of Hurricane Melissa has left catastrophic destruction throughout Jamaica, deeply affecting communities and critical infrastructure. Chain of Hope extends its heartfelt sympathy to all those impacted, with particular concern for the dedicated team and young patients at the Bustamante Hospital for Children as they face the challenges of recovery,” Phillpotts Brown said.