NBC launches medical fund

The National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC-Radio 705) has launched a National Medical Fund aimed at assisting persons who need to seek medical attention abroad and cannot afford to do so.
Launched on the grounds of the company’s studio at Richmond Hill last Wednesday morning, the fund has been established on the initiative of NBC’s staff as part of its outreach programme.{{more}}
General Manager of NBC Corlita Ollivierre, who also operates as a member of the National Medical Fund Committee, gave an overview of the Medical Fund Wednesday. She said, “We are looking to make sure that there is full transparency in the administration of this fund so that we can have the confidence of Vincentians as well as the persons who would be prepared to contribute their monies towards the fund.”
The fund, which was set up at the National Commercial Bank, account number 124290, currently has EC$5575.86 in it.
According to Ollivierre the money to set up the fund came out of a dance, “Love Boogie” put on by NBC at the Sugar Mill Inn on February 28 this year. They are hoping to make the event an annual one in an effort to help sustain the account. Ollivierre also noted that a fund of this nature would need constant replenishing.
“The sustenance of the fund is something that we have been discussing at NBC,” said Ollivierre. She also revealed that the radio station has agreed on two further fund-raising events, a Carnival cool down on July 10 and a family fun day on the first weekend in November.
According to the guidelines set out for the administration of the fund, it is open to all residents of SVG. Persons applying for the fund will be asked to submit an approved application form with a statement of household income while it is noted that cases will be dealt with on a first-come first-serve basis except in the case of emergencies. A letter of reference from the attending physician/consultant is also requested among other guidelines.
The members of the National Medical Fund Committee are retired Dr. Cecil Cyrus, economist and consultant in the Ministry of Finance Dr. Rudy Matthias, former West Indies Test cricketer and cricket administrator Michael Findlay, Dr. Rowena Derrick of the Medical Association, with former budget director Carmen Jack and NBC’s General Manager Corlita Ollivierre.
The launch event, which was addressed by Dr. Cyrus and Central Kingstown Representative Conrad Sayers, was two-fold in that the proceeds of an event called Community Affair, which is held every December by NBC to raise funds for charity, were given to two organisations. The Bread of Life, an institution that houses orphans at Fairbaine Pasture, and the Calder Primary School both received donations. Jasmin Smith of Bread of Life and Asha Browne of the Calder Primary School received the donations on their institutions’ behalf.