ST JAMES, Jamaica — The Black River Hospital in St Elizabeth has received a donation of  infant and maternity supplies, valued at over $1.3 million from the Digicel Foundation.

The items, which were handed over on Thursday (Jan. 15), include 65 cases of diapers, 12 boxes of baby wipes, 15 boxes of sanitary pads and 25 boxes of bleach.

Chief Executive Officer of the Black River Hospital, Diana Brown Miller, told JIS News that the support is both timely and appreciated.

She noted that even though the hospital is not yet operating at full capacity, the supplies will be distributed to mothers in need.

Brown Miller said that the hospital has benefited from widespread goodwill following Hurricane Melissa, which caused extensive damage in the parish and across western Jamaica.

“[Digicel Foundation] is among the many benefactors that have come to our rescue and our aid after this devastating hurricane, and I must confess that the assistance and donations have been overwhelming,” she said.

“We are extremely grateful for everyone, doesn’t matter how small it is. Everything adds up and we are just grateful and just want to say a big thank you to all Jamaicans and all those abroad who have reached out to us and are still planning to reach out to us,” she told JIS News.

“We are hoping that in short order we will be able to offer services at the level we used to and of course we are building back better. So, we are hoping that we will be more resilient at the end,” Brown Miller said.

Paediatrician at the Black River Hospital, Dr Allison Isaacs, said the donation will make a meaningful difference to both patients and staff.

She explained that the support comes at a time when many families and healthcare workers are still feeling the effects of the hurricane.

“It will help to soften the financial blow that a lot of the residents and staff… have taken because of Hurricane Melissa and its aftermath,” Dr Isaacs said.

“So, we just want to express our deepest gratitude to Digicel Foundation and their partners for considering us, for making the trip here to personally deliver the products. We are extremely grateful,” she said.

Chief Executive Officer of the Digicel Foundation, Charmaine Daniels, told JIS News that the donation was part of the Foundation’s ongoing relief efforts in western Jamaica, with special focus on vulnerable groups.

“We are providing the hospital with things for the paediatric ward in particular and the maternity ward as part of our ongoing relief efforts,” she noted.

Daniels praised the hospital staff, who are working under challenging conditions.

“We really appreciate them, and we want them to know that we have not forgotten them or their service to the country at this time, even though many of them were impacted by the storm,” she said.

–       JIS