CaMSA makes donation to MCMH’s Social Work Department

One day after her Student Fifth Term Clinician Ceremony held on the campus of Trinity School of Medicine, outgoing president of the Canadian Medical Students Association (CaMSA), Sonia Stasyszyn, made sure that the organization made its final delivery before her departure, to the Social Work Department of the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. On Thursday, April 20, CaMSA handed over a quantity of items to social worker at the hospital Kevan Glasgow.

According to Glasgow, supplies are always welcome. He explained that with an already existing shortage of items at the hospital, coupled with the number of persons and families that the department serves, no donors are turned away. “In terms of providing that necessary support, supplies like these makes us a bit more efficient,” he said. “When we get these things, we become more equipped in certain areas, due to the limited resources that we have.”

The Social Work Department of the hospital also undertakes home visits to families of individuals in their care. With these home visits, Glasgow explained, the department usually follows up to see if it is necessary to reinforce the supply packages or other assistance they give, working as far as possible to provide holistic care for these individuals. Not only does the department look after their own, but its social workers usually network with other institutions to which they donate supplies, once there is a surplus.

When asked about the need for doing deliveries even as she was preparing to leave St Vincent and the Grenadines, Sonia Stasyszyn, who had announced that her involvement with the Vincentian community, through CaMSA, had greatly aided her ability to tackle her studies, disclosed, “I’m going to continue doing what I do on the island. I’ve already set in place donations coming in for Christmas, even as I deliver these barrels here today. I’m continuing helping St Vincent, because it will always be a part of me. I will come back.”

The Trinity Canadian Medical Students Association CaMSA interacts with the local community on a regular basis, providing supplies of clothing, bedding, toiletries, toys and any other items which they see fit to be donated. These are sourced primarily in Canada and shipped to St Vincent and the Grenadines. CaMSA vows to continue this relationship.