KINGSTON, Jamaica - Numerous departments and sections at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital (VJH) in Kingston received much needed renovation and beautification on Labour Day through a collaborative effort from corporate Jamaica.
The Sanmerna Foundation, along with the Graham Sisters Foundation, took over the 5th floor of the VJH, which is the antenatal ward. Cal’s was responsible for renovating the post-surgical obstetric ward, while Guardian Life rehabilitated a garden that overlooks the area that will soon be known as the oncology cancer ward. Guardian also carried out painting in that general area. Just outside the antenatal clinic, Sherwin Williams conducted painting and other activities to uplift the car park that is designated to the antenatal clinic.
Dr Natalie Whylie, the chief executive officer of the Kingston Public Hospital and VJH, was happy as she looked around and saw the radiance of 5th floor.
“The place looks better. Once you come in, you feel uplifted as a patient and for the staff as well because we spend a lot of time at work. We have achieved total renovation of ward 5 and what it means is that mothers who are housed here for the time they are under our care now have a better environment. Sanmerna Paper Products, through its foundation, has really been a champion,” she told OBSERVER ONLINE, adding that VJH was excited and looking forward to continued partnership.
Robert White, managing director of Sanmerna Paper Products and director of Sanmerna Foundation, ONLINE OBSERVER that the occasion was special to his team because most of them were born at VJH. While at the institution, White said he made a very concerning observation. According to him, what he saw were very few fathers coming to visit mothers at the hospital. He encouraged men to step up and do better.
“I feel honoured to adopt the Victoria Jubilee Hospital as our Labour Day project. It is special for us because this is where most of us were born. Today we are giving back. We are fixing stuff that needed to be fixed so the mothers can feel comfortable and at home. I want the fathers to play more roles in their kids’ lives. While we have been here working, I haven’t seen many dads visiting the mothers. Support your child and be better role models. You don’t want someone on the street to be that father for your child,” he stated.
Sanmerna and the Graham Sisters Foundations extended the Labour Day gesture and donated a 50-inch smart television that will be mounted in the special care nursery and high dependency unit "for neonates and will help the mothers, while they feed their babies to have some entertainment and some nice scenery", according to VJH's senior medical officer, Dr Garth McDonald.
The Graham Sister Foundation made other donations as well, to include baby wipes, diapers and other items.
– Jason Cross
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