PORT ANTONIO HOSPITAL RECEIVES OVER $1.6 MILLION IN EQUIPMENT FROM DIGICEL FOUNDATION

Kingston, Jamaica – February 15, 2019. Digicel Foundation recently partnered with King’s House to provide much needed medical equipment to the Port Antonio Hospital in Portland. The hospital’s Chairman Hugh Perry, CEO Althea Gardner and staff of the hospital, which has a complement of over 200 health care professionals, welcomed the visit from Their Excellencies, Governor General Sir Patrick Allen and Lady Allen.

Digicel Foundation Chair Jean Lowrie-Chin accompanied Sir Patrick and Lady Allen, as well as the Custos of Portland Lincoln Thaxter on a two-hour tour of the hospital. The group visited both the Maternity and Paediatric Wards. During their visit, Mrs. Lowrie-Chin announced to the delighted administrative and nursing staff that Digicel Foundation has purchased critical medical equipment for donation to the health care facility. The Foundation will donate an Electronic Patient Care Monitor, a Defibrillator, a Nebulizer and an Electronic Foetal Monitor, valued at over J$1.65 million. The equipment was provided following a needs assessment at the hospital.

Governor General Sir Patrick Allen congratulated the Port Antonio Hospital on its 75^th anniversary. Commenting on the pressure that many health care institutions find themselves under due to increased demand for their services, he said: “Today we pause to show appreciation to you who do so much with very little. Despite the scarce resources, you have not allowed this constraint to compromise your mandate to deliver the best possible service to your patients.”

Noting the value of private sector partnerships that the hospital has benefited from, Sir Patrick thanked the Digicel Foundation for its generosity in providing the much-needed equipment.

“This equipment will not only help to save lives,” said Mrs. Lowrie-Chin, Chairman of Digicel Foundation. “It also reflects the Foundation’s goals of strengthening communities – including our friends and partners in rural Jamaica, where access to healthcare is particularly important for the quality of life of our citizens outside urban areas. We are so happy and honoured to join Their Excellencies, Governor General Sir Patrick Allen and Lady Allen on their tour of the hospital. We know that, as a former nurse herself, Lady Allen has a particular interest, and truly cares about improving the health and wellbeing of Jamaican citizens. We at Digicel Foundation feel the same way.”