Basseterre St. Kitts (December 15, 201) - Minister of Health, Hon Marcella Liburd has thanked the Development Bank of Saint Kitts and Nevis for agreeing to partner with her ministry in the delivery of health care in the country.
Speaking at a brief ceremony Tuesday at the Psychiatric Unit of the Joseph N France General Hospital where she received a cheque of EC$55,459 from the Development Bank to procure materials to effect repairs to the physical structure of the unit, Minister Liburd said that it was not the first time the bank had extended assistance to the ministry.
“I am sure the staff is very happy to know that they are getting this assistance to help with the upgrade and security of this particular unit,” said Liburd. “I also want people generally to know that we are not just concerned about physical health but mental health as well. Mental health is extremely important to us here at JNF and to the country in particular.”
The cheque was handed over to the Minister by the bank’s Human Resources Officer, Ms Coralee Benjamin, in the presence of senior staff led by Dr Cameron Wilkinson, Medical Chief of Staff and the entire staff at the Psychiatric Unit. Liburd said that the Psychiatric Unit needed some serious repairs and acknowledged that the donation would be a big help.
“I want to thank all those who work in this unit because we know that their jobs are not easy,” said Minister Liburd. “You know your jobs are not easy and so we want you to know how much we appreciate what you do for the patients and for the country. I want to thank the Development Bank who have partnered with us on many occasions to help with delivery of quality health care.”
In handing over the cheque, on behalf of the board of directors, management and staff of the Development Bank, Ms Benjamin said: “We trust that this donation would help to greatly improve safety and security of your patients, clients and staff of the institution, and also provide support for societal stability.”
Dr Cameron Wilkinson, who gave the vote of thanks on behalf of the staff of the Joseph N France General Hospital and all those persons who use the Psychiatric Unit, said “I want to say how pleased I am with this generous donation that we received from the Development Bank. The donation will go a long way to upgrade the facility.”
Present at the handing over ceremony were Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Sharon Halliday, Matron Sonia Daly, Principal Nursing Officer, Henrietta Douglas-Christmas, Operations Manager Lornette Adams, Health Information System Administrator Gail Cranstoum, Health Planner Andrew Skerritt, Staff Nurses Melissa Huggins and Stephanie Manning, Assistant Nurse Maria Browne, Mental Health Officers Cheryl Amory-Isaac and Seana Cuffy and Windsor Medical University students Hannah Udoh and Samuel Iwar.
