Class of 1955 raises money for GHS sick bay

“Room 55 is declared open.”

Students at the Girls’ High School now have a brand new sick bay that has been donated by past students of the school. {{more}}

Speaking at the opening of the facility on Wednesday, member of the graduating class of 1955 and former teacher of the school, Jeannette France said that the idea of a sick bay came about during a reunion with members of her graduating class in 2005. They decided then, that they should join together and give something back to the school.

According to France, the class of 1955 was able to raise $12,000 but it was insufficient to complete the project. As a result, they visited the Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves who arranged for them to get funding from the Social Investment Fund (SIF).



“Use the sick bay facility with pride. Take care of the sick bay so that you can pass it on to other generations in the way in which you got it,” France encouraged the students.

The air conditioned sick bay, which is set up in a new room built on to the school’s Grimble Building, is furnished with 3 hospital type beds with medical mattresses, 2 chairs for use by asthmatics, a fridge, toilet, wash basin and a sluice area. There is also a nurses’ station.

Angela Patrick, who represented SIF said that the organization seeks to provide assistance to the poorer communities and vulnerable groups through the development of social services and income generating projects.

Patrick said that $30,000 was given to the school to build the room to house the sick bay. She asked the students to use the facility with responsibility and not as a place to seek refuge from classes. She also encouraged them to make use of their educational opportunity since education is the surest way to fight poverty. (SB)