BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE stock of equipment at the Joseph N. France General Hospital was buttressed yesterday afternoon (Jan. 13) by a donation from the Republic of China, Taiwan, which is valued at in excess of EC$130,000.
The donation took the form of 38 ACER desktop computers and monitors, four Microsoft Surface Pros and a multipurpose HP printer.
And in giving a brief remarks at the handing over ceremony which was held at the Hospital, Taiwanese Ambassador His Excellency Gow-Wei Chiou said the donation is part of his Government’s and the Ministry of Health’s thrust towards the “informatization of the public health network in St. Kitts and Nevis”.
“With increasing focus on the health welfare of the public, the Ministry of Health has worked restlessly in past years to upgrade overall information facility of the hospital network in St. Kitts and Nevis. These great efforts have placed St. Kitts and Nevis as the leading country to merge technology with public health and meet the standard and policy of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States.”
Junior Minister with responsibility for Health the Hon. Wendy Phipps expressed thanks for the “generous gift” and she indicated her hope that the equipment would be used in the best way possible while safeguarding patients’ information and as the institution works towards a technology-driven approach to health management.
Attorney General and Communications Minister the Hon. Vincent Byron said the donation is part of a project designed to “enhance public health analysis and knowledge management” and would be used in the function of the hospital information system.
Minister of Health the Hon. Eugene Hamilton Echoed Byron’s sentiments declaring that the donation is designed to strengthen the hospital information system and once in optimal operation, it would noticeably impact operations at the institution.
“Once operational, optimally, the technologies will have an immediate, in my view, a direct and positive impact on the accuracy and timeliness of treatment and diagnostic interventions. It will have impact on cost forecasting, cost tracking…and the overall management and planning of the people’s resources.”
The exact value of the donation is EC$130,028.23 or US$48,158.60
