SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland

The Savanna-la-Mar hospital’s capacity to perform certain surgical procedures has doubled with the acquisition of two machines from the Scotia Jamaica Foundation (SJF).

The machines – a Vital Signs Monitor and a Laparoscopy (Tubal Ligation Single Puncture Diagnostic and Video System) – which were handed over last Friday by William ‘Bill’ Clarke, President and CEO of Scotia Bank Jamaica, are valued at J$4.5 million.

They are slated for use in the Operating Theatre.
“Sometime last year, I visited the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital and was approached by Dr Tha and Dr Evan Nepaul who both asked for assistance with obtaining these machines for the institution… “I did not hesitate,” said Clarke at the presentation ceremony.

In her vote of thanks, CEO of the hospital, Mrs. Lorene Whinstanley, told the gathering of hospital and Scotia staff, businesspersons and community members that “the donors have been assured that the machines will be properly cared for.”

Also present at the morning function were Joylene Griffiths-Irving, Executive Director SJF and Dr Alexander Konstantinov, Regional Director Western Region Health Authority.

Dr Nepaul noted that he began working at the hospital in 1991 and revived the use of a machine similar to the Laparoscopy that was there since the 1970s. That machine was able to assist 400 surgeries each year up to year 2000 when it “expired”. Since then, the hospital has been only able to perform approximately 200 such procedures annually.
Dr Nepaul said that while designed mainly for gynaecological purposes, the Laparoscopy can be upgraded for use in procedures involving looking inside the body cavities of both males and females.

“It is a telescope attached to a light source that is magnified through a TV screen, which is inserted after the abdominal cavity is inflated with carbon dioxide gas. It helps locate pregnancy in the tubes; ovarian cysts, and endometriosis (which causes severe pelvic pain),” he said.

He explained that the Vital Signs Monitor “is able to check the pulse, blood pressure, respiration rate, temperature, and oxygen and carbon dioxide levels of the patient thus allowing early detection of abnormal situations to prevent catastrophe.”

According to Dr Nepaul, the machines will also be used to teach doctors in the western region.

SJF has been a partner in health care in western Jamaica since 1998 when they established the recently expanded Haemodialysis Unit at Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) at a cost of JA$19.3 million.

The Foundation has also supported the Renal Care Centre at CRH for the past ten years.

By Haile Mika’el (Observer Western)