Basseterre, St. Kitts, January 12, 2016 (SKNIS): The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has a valuable partner in the Pediatric Assistance League of St. Kitts (PALS) in caring for sick children in the Federation.
This was the reason for its invitation and attendance at a meeting held January 05 with World Pediatric Project (WPP) representatives Susan Rickman, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO); and Board Members, Dr. Brian Clarke and Simon Carey.
President, Giselle Matthews said that the 23 year old PALS was founded by Nova Mallalieu and Ann Fish, who quietly coordinated the raising of funds from among their family and acquaintances to assist the young patients. More recently, the fundraising was expanded.
“The last three years, we have made it I suppose more public in many ways and also more appealing to the private sector and to the community at large in regards of who we are, what we are doing and what we are trying to achieve in the long-term,” Mrs. Matthews said, revealing that the charity was propelled to do so by the G’neika Liburd case in 2013. “We had always been there, it’s just that this was a major case that needed and required urgent financial assistance. We felt the only way to get it as quickly as possible, was to along with the family, use social media. At the time we thought everything would have to be funded for the brain surgery but luckily very quickly the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, picked up the case and were extremely generous in taking her case and performing the surgery.”
PALS covered the parent’s air travel, accommodation and other expenses for the initial journey. Eight year old G’neika has progressed well and is still under the organisation’s care for her follow-up assessment and treatment in Maryland, USA, four times per year.
“We decided to have a more proactive approach to funding, so that when a case comes up, we should have some funds there to deal with it immediately, especially if it’s urgent.”
PALS Treasurer Carolyn Chisholm explained how her organization provides assistance.
“Basically, what we do with PALS is we have four steams (means of assisting),” Ms. Chisholm outlined. “First, it’s to be able to help by providing financial assistance to children who need urgent overseas care. Second, is to assist the Pediatrics Ward with its equipment wish-list, so we raise funds to be able to purchase equipment. Every hospital that you go to you see donor’s plaques, so it’s no different in St. Kitts and Nevis.
“The third part of it is training and the training is important for doctors and nurses to be able to go to overseas conferences because the more trained they are, the better opportunity it is for increased care in St. Kitts and Nevis. The fourth one is that sometimes these families, here in St. Kitts have a child who’s sick and they can’t afford the medication cost; we then will step in and use our fund called the Pedifund, which is separate to the PALS fund.”
“It’s more of a day to day access fund for that type of need,” Mrs. Matthews said, explaining that about two months ago the Pedifund was used to purchase a small refrigerator that is used to store medication for the children. The refrigerator is located in the Pediatrics Ward.”
Children whose parents don’t have the means to pay for medical procedures are referred to PALS by JNF Head Pediatrician Dr. Ian Jacobs in consultation with Chief Medical Officer Patrick Martin, and in collaboration with Director of Social Development Azilla Clarke.
“And we have to have that procedure in place because cases go through the medical doctor, the pediatrician, through to Azilla Clarke’s Social Services,” Ms. Matthews said. “They vet the families, determine what and if they can afford. Social Services provides assistance if they can; we then come in as a partner with all the other ancillary services that they’re going to need when they are overseas as a family.”
PALS also assists by bringing in specialists to treat particular ailments diagnosed in the Federation, as was the case in July 2014 when Dr. Colin Abel, a pediatric urologist from Jamaica, was brought in to treat a number of children in the Federation. PALS funded the travel and contributor Vic De Zen and the team of the St. Kitts Marriott donated the accommodation.
Ms. Matthews explained that an annual newsletter alerts donors as to how their funding is being spent. As outlined in the 2014-2015 newsletter, the mandate of PALS is: “To help improve the access to regional and international medical care for children of St. Kitts and Nevis; To help improve the quality of life for children of St. Kitts and Nevis who suffer with chronic and/or long term medical challenges; and to help improve and raise the quality and standard of medical care for children of the Federation available in St. Kitts and Nevis.”
“You can join and become a private donor to PALS, or a member of PALS by paying a minimum donation,” Mrs. Matthews said. “No amount is too small.”
The individual donor listing is: Friend - $100, Member - $350, Governor - $750 and Trustee $2,000. The corporate donor categories are Bronze - $500, Silver - $2,000, Gold - $5,000 and Platinum $10,000. PALS also offers the alternative of giving a celebration donation which is a contribution given in someone else’s name as a gift to that person.
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