Victoria Jubilee Hospital receives four incubators
Published:Friday | May 18, 2018 | 4:15 PMCarlene Davis/Gleaner Writer
With the number-one cause of neonatal deaths at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital (VJH) being prematurity, the hospital yesterday welcomed four incubators valued at more than US$15,000 (J$1.9 million).
The hospital currently has two incubators, and the new equipment will bring the total to six. But senior medical officer for the VJH Dr Orville Morgan said that the facility needed at least 12 incubators to operate effectively, nonetheless, he was grateful for the donation.
"Without adequate numbers of incubators, babies will suffer from what we call hypothermia, meaning that their temperature will drop," said Morgan. "This, in turn, will cause all of their internal processes to go, haywire, and they become very sick. So an incubator is an extremely important piece of equipment in the whole management of a new born," he said.
The incubators and medical supplies - which included a laryngoscope, an ear thermometer, blood pressure machines, among other items - were donated by the Jamaica United Relief Association from South Florida.
CIVIC DUTY
Vice-president of the group Roxy Blissette said that when the group was informed of the mortality rate at the VJH, they decided to provide the hospital with units for the next two to three years.
"As Jamaicans, I think it is our civic duty, especially when you are in a situation where you can lend an additional hand, and I think that's what we are doing right now.
"There is no other area in the health industry that I would like to help more than saving lives. These are our future generation, so if we don't help them, we are losing them. Why should we not try to make a difference?" argued Blissette.
In addition, acting CEO of the Kingston Public Hospital and the Victoria Jubilee Hospital Colleen Wright has urged persons who could donate to do so as the hospital was always in need, and any form of donation was welcome.
"We are always grateful for donations because it helps us to improve service delivery, whether it is the donation of time, which is persons volunteering, or it is the donation of gifts such as the medical equipment or sundries. We are grateful for them because they allow us to be able to fulfill our mandate and to enhance our service delivery," said Wright.