With an urgent cry for more beds in Jamaica’s public hospitals, the Seventh-day Adventists Church gave a much-needed boost of 40 hospital beds at an estimated cost of US$120,000 to the Ministry of Health & Wellness during the handover ceremony on December 12, 2023, at the Good Samaritan Inn (GSI) in Kingston.
“On behalf of the AdventHealth Hospital Network, our chairman, Pastor Everett Brown, board of governors, administration, and staff of the Andrews Memorial Hospital and The GSI Foundation Jamaica, the charity arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica and the vehicle for getting these beds into the country, we present 40 fully functioning patient beds to the Ministry of Health & Wellness for the benefit to the Spanish Town and May Pen hospitals and the National Healthcare Advancement Foundation,” said Donmayne Gyles, president of Andrews Memorial Hospital during the handover ceremony.
The donors, AdventHealth Hospital Network, a prominent American non-profit, faith-based healthcare system with 53 hospitals, headquartered near Orlando, Florida, along with Jamaica’s Adventist-run Andrews Memorial Hospital and GSI Foundation, were happy for this collaboration, which had The Honourable Dr. Christopher Tufton, Minister of Health & Wellness, on hand to receive the gifts.
“Through the gift of these hospital beds, we pray that the patients who receive care at your institutions will receive comfort during their time of recovery,” read Gyles in a message from Dr. Audrey Gregory, CEO of AdventHealth East Florida Division, and Monty Jacobs, director of AdventHealth Global Missions.
Gyles continued, “It is through projects like this, working together, that we fulfill our mission and improve the quality of care for those who are sick. We look forward to continuing to work with Andrews Memorial Hospital on future projects to benefit the people of Jamaica.”
In giving thanks, Dr. Tufton praised AdventHealth, Andrews Memorial Hospital, and the GSI Foundation for the well-needed donation, “This may seem simple. It has more to do with just 40 beds,” he said. “The beds we have received are much more expensive than the ones at Courts; they offer many more functionalities that are important for the treatment and care of patients.”
Dr. Tufton further lauded the Adventist community for being loyal partners in collaborating and supporting the health ministry.
Gyles stated that Andrews Memorial Hospital and the Adventist Church community will continue supporting the efforts of the Ministry of Health & Wellness. “We are aligned with Vision 2030 National Outcome #1 to achieve a healthy and stable population by increasing life expectancy higher than 76 years and increasing positive outcomes in the health sector.” He continued, “In 2024, The Andrews Memorial Hospital celebrates 80 years of service to this island Jamaica and stands firm to its mission of extending Christ’s healing ministry.”
In reaction to the donation, Errol Greene, regional director of South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA), said he was elated. “If you had 100 beds, Spanish Town Hospital alone could take all of them, so I am very happy for the contribution. I am sure that they will go a long way in the comfort level of our patients,”
Greene recalled that at the Spanish Town Hospital, “just yesterday, there were 100 persons just sitting in wheelchairs, waiting to be admitted because we didn’t have any beds. So, this will go a long way in making life a lot more comfortable.”
“I am beyond ecstatic!” exclaimed Dr. Ivanah Thomas, a physician from the May Pen Hospital who was instrumental in collaborating with AdventHealth to have the beds shipped to Jamaica. “Just last week, I was drawing blood from a patient, and the little bed that the person was on was almost to the ground. I had to bend down to reach the patient. So, I am beyond ecstatic that this finally happened. Of course, May Pen could do well with all 40 beds. I am glad we are on board with this gift.”
Valrie Gordon, a St. Catherine resident, expressed delight in hearing about the donation. She recalled, “This year, my mother was transferred from the May Pen Hospital to the Spanish Town Hospital and had to wait three days before getting a bed, so this is a good move by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.”
The event ended with the cutting of ribbon, signifying the official handover, which was also attended by Dr. Meric Dale Walker, president of the East Jamaica Conference and chair of the GSI Foundation; Dr. Bradley Edwards, senior medical officer of May Pen Hospital, represented by Dr. Aleith Hemans-Skeen, consultant obstetrician/gynecologist; Courtney Cephas, executive director of the National Healthcare Enhancement Foundation; Gavin Lowe, director of the GSI Foundation in Jamaica; Vermont Murray, project manager of Good Samaritan Inn; the Andrews Memorial Hospital’s management team; third-year medical students from the University of the West Indies; and poetry students and a teacher from the New Hope Preparatory School.
The original version of this story was posted on the Inter-American Division website.