St Ann’s Bay hospital gets US$10,000 in equipment
Published:Monday | December 23, 2024 | 12:07 AMCarl Gilchrist/Gleaner Writer
The services at the urology department at St Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital have been bolstered with the donation of several pieces of equipment valued over US$10,000 from Sandals Foundation.
“Following the successful fund-raising efforts of the Sandals Golf and Jerk Festival held in June this year, the philanthropic organisation recently presented several specialised equipment valued at some US$10,000 to aid the medical team in their ability to diagnose and treat prostate, kidney, ureter, and bladder disorders, as well as ailments of the male reproductive organs,” stated a release from Sandals Foundation.
The Foundation’s executive director, Heidi Clarke, said supporting community healthcare infrastructure was a key part of their work.
“We fundamentally believe that the wealth of our island’s families is connected to their access to education, services, and treatment that preserve their health,” she said.
The items included a mobile endoscopic unit, bipolar cautery forceps, biopsy gun, and Ligaclip applicators.
“Our urology department is new and these pieces of equipment are very important to have it functioning and providing essential services to patients,” said urologist at the hospital, Dr Marie Brown.
Senior medical officer, Dr Tanya Hamilton, said the donation would significantly enhance the quality of life for patients diagnosed with prostate cancer through early detection, diagnosis, and treatment, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes.
“The mobile endoscopic tower, she continued, “will allow us to see the urine passage, making it possible for the placement of difficult urethral catheters and it will help with diagnostic procedures in the operating room”.
“The Ligaclip applicators will help control troublesome bleeding in patients’ during open surgeries, while the other equipment will help with a wide range of procedures and needs of patients with varying urological conditions from benign diseases to cancers.”
The donation is indeed a vital one as Jamaica has one of the highest rates of prostate cancer in the world, with just over 300 cases per 100,000 men confirmed each year. It is the most common cancer in Jamaica and the leading cause of cancer-related death in men.
Being black, at an advanced age, dietary habits, and family history contribute to the risk of getting the disease.