Rotary Club assists with Asthma treatment
The injection of over US $80,000 worth of prescription medicine and other pharmaceuticals towards the treatment of asthma is considered a breath of fresh air for sufferers of the chronic non communicable disease which kills billions worldwide annually.{{more}}
The presentation, made to the Minister of Health Douglas Slater last week Tuesday on behalf of the asthma clinic at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, was done through collaborated grant between the Rotary Club of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the Rotary Club of Edina, Minnesota, USA, and Rotary International.
Charles Keffer, the American coordinator of the grant, said that it was an honour to be donating the medicine and pharmaceuticals to the asthma clinic, and hoped there would be continuing partnerships between the Rotary Clubs and contributing manufacturers, including manufacturer Merck and Co. Inc.
Local Rotary President Dr. Simeon Norton expressed gratitude for the assistance from the international bodies, and indicated that the contribution was just another of the many outreach programmes being conducted by his organization.
Apart from other projects currently conducted by the Rotary Club, a computer literacy course for inmates of Her Majestyâs prisons was launched last week.
On accepting the medical products, Minister Slater stated that the medication will ease the woes of asthma sufferers here, which has systematically increased over the years.
Slater credited the asthma clinic, headed by Sister Hyacinth Bacchus and Dr. Christina Schwindt, for this countryâs control of the disease, which is said to affect approximately 18,000 Vincentians.
The medication presented to the clinic includes SINGULAIR, a prescription medicine used to help the control of asthma and allergies in adults and children 12 months and older.
They also received Seretide, a medication used to treat moderate to severe asthmatic conditions. (JJ)
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