Bustamante Hospital gets $24 million life-saving gifts

Chain of Hope UK has reinforced its long-standing commitment to The Bustamante Hospital for Children (BHC) with the donation of essential medical equipment valued at US$152,000 (approximately J$24.3 millon).

Last Friday, Chain of Hope Jamaica facilitated the handover, which included: one Echo machine valued at US$65,000 (approximately J$10.4 million); one ECG machine at US$30,000 (approximately J$4.8 million); two Diathermy machines worth US$24,000 (approximately J$3.8 million); five defibrillators at US$30,000; and one Sonosite machine valued at US$3,000 (approximately J$480,000).

"It's heart work; an ongoing labour of love," said Diane Edwards, chair of Chain of Hope Jamaica. "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 and cardiologist Dr Tamra Tomlinson-Morris, as well as the training of the nurses," Edwards added at the handover ceremony.

The donation is part of Chain of Hope UK's over 20-year partnership with BHC, facilitated locally by Chain of Hope Jamaica. This collaboration has enabled life-saving cardiac care for countless children, and the organisation remains steadfast in its commitment to sustain these critical services, particularly in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

Tomlinson-Morris highlighted the importance of the donation.

"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," she said.

"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," Dr Tomlinson-Morris added.

Nola Phillpotts Brown, general manager of Chain of Hope Jamaica, reaffirmed the organisation's commitment to providing tangible support to the hospital and the children it serves, while also assisting Jamaica's recovery from Hurricane 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.

In addition to the donation, Chain of Hope UK continues to offer guidance and support to BHC doctors, including its retrieval committee, to assist in the safe transfer of patients from the western parts of the island to the hospital.