CONSULTANT paediatrician at Falmouth Public General Hospital Dr Kerry-Ann McKenzie was visibly moved, Tuesday, as she welcomed the Sandals Foundation’s annual Island Challenge, which will raise £100,000 to replace paediatric and neonatal equipment destroyed by Hurricane Melissa.

Operating out of Trelawny, a parish still recovering from last October’s devastation, McKenzie shared that even after the hospital replaced its roof, the paediatric unit’s Accident and Emergency Department looked forlorn, with only one bed to spare.

“We were pretty much very badly affected by Hurricane Melissa, and our paediatric unit was destroyed. We lost everything; every incubator, every monitor, every bed except one, our departments, where we fight every single day for the lives of our smallest, and our future leaders of our country were devastated,” said McKenzie, her voice trembling slightly.

She was extending her thanks to the Sandals Foundation during the launch of the annual Island Challenge at the AC Hotel Kingston.

Beginning October 2, the four-day expedition will take 30 athletes from the United Kingdom and 15 Jamaican participants across Trelawny, St Ann, St Mary, and St Andrew, where they will trek, hike, and paddle around the island to raise funds for paediatric equipment at Falmouth Public General Hospital.

McKenzie told the launch that doctors and nurses have been resilient in the face of disaster, showing up daily despite not having the equipment to provide comprehensive care. She noted that she was happily anticipating the addition of the medical instruments.

“Jamaicans are resilient. We are a resilient people, and we’re a resilient health facility. With the help of Sandals Foundation, we are going to show forth brighter than what we were previously.

“But resilience can’t buy an incubator. It can’t replace a cardiac monitor. It cannot give us back the beds that we lost. That’s why we’ve joined the Sandals Foundation now in this Island Challenge in getting us the essential equipment that we need for our paediatric and neonatal units at the Falmouth Public General Hospital,” she said.

Speaking with the Jamaica Observer, McKenzie explained that the paediatric unit was badly in need of beds, incubators, resuscitators, and monitoring equipment such as pulse oximeters, vital signs monitors, as well as phototherapy lights, warming blankets, and cooling blankets.

“We’ve struggled, but we have been able to keep the department afloat despite the lack of resources. We’re really looking forward to getting the extra help that we need to do what we need to do. We’ve had to do a lot of transfers out because we just don’t have the capacity to keep as many children as we want. But there are scenarios where we can’t get babies out and we’ve really had to take our hand and make fashion. It’s been an exhausting journey, but this is the beginning of a new one, so I’m so excited,” she said.

The head paediatrician also extended her gratitude to athletes participating in the event, telling the launch that their contribution to the hospital’s recovery was invaluable.

“To every runner, every hiker, every donor, every partner standing with us today, on behalf of every child that will pass through the doors of Falmouth Public General Hospital, and every family who will sit beside them holding their hands, we say thank you. You’re not just raising funds. You’re giving our children a lifeline, a fighting chance. You’re rewarding our resilience. And it will go a long way in making sure that we’re able to offer the care that they need,” she said.

Delivering her remarks, executive director at Sandals Foundation Heidi Clarke spoke of the event’s importance. She said the past three challenges raised £300,000 across Antigua & Barbuda in 2023, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines in 2024, and Saint Lucia in 2025 collectively, benefiting about 1,800 babies.

“I’m very excited to see this finally come home to Jamaica, and as our road to recovery continues here in Jamaica, we know it all too well and [so do] the dedicated teams at the hospitals. It has been a difficult and long road, but with many partners, we’ve been able to work together to make things come to life. We have to recognise, more than ever, the strength of our health care systems are what matter and make communities stronger. Everybody in this room today helps to make events like this possible. And we could not be more grateful,” she said.

Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett told the launch that the testimonial from McKenzie very nearly moved him to tears, hailing the event as a well-needed lifesaving mechanism.

“The passion that drives the Island Challenge, for example, is a powerful one. Because it’s not just one of physical fitness, discipline, dexterity, agility, and ability to use GPS (global positioning system) to navigate through and find your places. It’s not just about that only. It’s about why you do it…

“In the end, you will say, ‘I’m not here for me. I’m here because of others.’ And so what the foundation is doing is demonstrating practically that we are here for others. And tourism connects others,” said Bartlett.