Seventy-six new beds including mattresses valued at US$57,000 are to be distributed to the public health sector. This was made possible through a donation from Food for the Poor and J Wray and Nephew. Minister of Health, Hon. Horace Dalley said the donation will go a far way in improving service delivery to patients. Minister Dalley was speaking at the official handover ceremony on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 held at the head offices of Food for the Poor in Ellerslie Pen, Spanish Town, St. Catherine.
Minister Dalley said, “the response from the private sector has been tremendous since I became the Health Minister and I want to thank everyone and especially J Wray and Nephew and Food for the Poor for this donation of seventy-six semi-electric beds that will go a far way in assisting us in providing adequate bed space to our patients.”
“I want to applaud Food for the Poor in particular for always responding to the calls whether during a crisis such as disasters or just remaining committed to their mandate of giving and on behalf of the people of Jamaica and the government I want to express my gratitude, “he continued.
The donation of the seventy-six (76) semi-electric beds will be distributed to six (6) hospitals across the island including Kingston Public Hospital (15), Spanish Town Hospital (15), Cornwall Regional Hospital (15), May Pen Hospital (15), St. Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital (8) and Mandeville Regional Hospital (8).
The donation was made in commemoration of J Wray and Nephew’s 190th anniversary. Food for the Poor played a critical role in sourcing of the beds and mattresses according to international specifications as well as assisting with the shipping.