FOBH ensuring that medication, consumables are always available

Friends of the Bequia Hospital (FOBH) was set up five years ago, primarily to meet the immediate needs of the Bequia Hospital for medical supplies.

FOBH is a Trust, administered under the laws of St Vincent and the Grenadines, working with the Ministry of Health to improve medical care on Bequia.

The trustees are John Barnard, Sabrina Mitchell, Dave Neely and Camille Jacobs.A release from the organization said the trigger point for setting up the organization was when someone lost his life to diabetes on the journey from Bequia to St Vincent as there was no insulin on Bequia.

“This must never happen again,” said Barnard.The first priority is to ensure that medication and consumables are available to meet the ongoing needs of the people of Bequia.

“We meet these immediate needs and more through a series of fundraising events on the Island. As an indicator, we spend some XCD$25,000 annually on frontline supplies and a similar sum on additional items,” the release said.

The ultimate goal of the FOBH is to offer a centre of medical excellence, unparalleled in the Southern Caribbean. This vision is shared at the highest levels of Government, the release said.The Trust said that prioritizing needs that can be met from within their limited budget has been their biggest challenge.

“It is clear for example, that providing a standalone piece of equipment is not helpful. A package of training, maintenance and technical support is almost always needed. Examples would include a fully functional modern ambulance and an X-ray machine,” the release said.With this in mind, the FOBH has recently provided and installed a computer and printer network, which will be linked with the Health Service System and the staff fully trained in its use.

The FOBH said they recognized that “low hanging fruit” was an early priority and they therefore have rehabilitated the water well and secured the rainwater collection system.“Ensuring the future supply of clean water remains high on our list of priorities. Shelves and cupboards have been organized and are being fitted, also name tags and door signs have been supplied.

“We also explored potential costs for a range of possible projects, ranging from solar power, through rehabilitation of the old doctor’s house and surgery.

We have considered a small back up generator in Port Elizabeth and at the Paget Farm Clinic but that is not yet at the top of our list of needs,” the release said.

The FOBH has also purchased an immobilizer to help in the sea transfer of anyone suffering accidental spinal damage, thanks to a generous donation from Heidi Pritchard.According to the release, the FOBH has been asked to upgrade the hospital sluice room and the necessary equipment is now on order from the United Kingdom.

Looking to the future, the FOBH has agreed that a hospital administrator is needed, to stop the medical staff being distracted from their nursing work by relatively minor repairs and replacement needs.

According to the release, the administrator ideally should be a Bequia resident and the job is part time, one or possibly two days per week. Discussions with Government continue, as the FOBH seeks to determine the best way to improve healthcare on Bequia and support the Ministry of Health in its efforts.“We continue to enjoy the support of the Minister, his Permanent Secretary and the Chief Medical Officer,” the release said.