Here, CEO of Savanna-la-Mar Hospital in Westmoreland Roan Grant (second right) accepts a cheque from Rodney Price (second left), popularly known as dancehall artiste Bounty Killer, during a handover at the institution on Monday, November 17. They are joined by chairman of the hospital Jamie James (left) and head of the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department Dr Jevayne Mills.

Savanna-la-Mar is among four hospitals in western Jamaica to have received a significant $8-million boost to their operations through a major philanthropic initiative in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

The effort was marshalled through the Bounty Foundation and American music producer DJ Khaled, via his We The Best Foundation, who jointly donated $2 million each to the four hospitals.

The other beneficiary institutions are Black River Hospital in St Elizabeth, Falmouth Public General Hospital in Trelawny, and Cornwall Regional Hospital in St James.

Grant described the artistes as benevolent givers and expressed gratitude for the donation.

“The $2 million given to the hospital will be put to tremendous use, where we will use it in getting two arterial blood gas (ABG) machines. Those are some point of care machines that will hasten diagnoses for patients in the A&E Department, as well as the paediatric ward,” he indicated. “We want to thank everybody for [this donation].”

“When I saw those field hospitals put up after the hurricane, I said the first initiative is go to the hospitals,” Price stated.

He also highlighted the resilience of health-care workers and announced plans to donate care packages as part of upcoming initiatives.