| |
Contact:
Julita Peter
Friday, October 28, 2004 - A new maternity wing is being added to the St.
Jude Hospital, thanks to the contribution of the Rotary Clubs of St. Lucia and
Washington. At a ceremony on Wednesday marking the official start of the
project, Assistant District Governor Lisle Chase said that the project which had
been in the making for some 15 years now, was the brainchild of Dr. Larry
Iverson, a volunteer at the institution.
“Well a lot of time passed between 1989 and now, and the project has gone
through a bit of a metamorphosis, but the long and the short of it, the Rotary
Club of East Belington went around the whole district of Washington and picked
up another five clubs, and they put together US$30,000, which still was not
enough for the project. Dr Iverson then came home to St. Lucia and the Rotary
clubs of St. Lucia put together another US$ 24,000 towards this project”, Mr.
Chase informed.
Hospital Administrator Mr. Paul Meroe remarked that the project was expected to
bring about some significant improvement in alleviating the congestion, which
now exists at the facility.
“It will provide space for the counselling of mothers, a nursery…..to enhance
machine satisfaction”, Mr. Meroe said.
Member of Parliament for Vieux -Fort South, Hon. Dr. Kenny Anthony, who was
there to witness the turning of the sod, said that the new maternity project was
a reaffirmation that the hospital had not been forgotten.
“But perhaps the most important consideration is for the number of young mothers
in our community, that they would have a modern and very decent facility, and so
it is with great pleasure that I welcome this initiative by Rotarians here at
the hospital”, the Prime Minister said.
According to Dr. Anthony, “volunteerism must really never ever die, and whatever
opportunity we have to help others around us, we should utilize that
opportunity”, noting that “if we can make life better for others we ourselves
can feel more contented with our own lives”.
Completion date for the project has been set for February 2005. Construction
will be undertaken by St. Lucian, Stephen Charles.
Meanwhile, the asbestos roofing at the hospital has caused some concern to
patients, as well as the Vieux-Fort community. Acknowledging this as a major
challenge, Dr. Anthony warned that the changing of the roofs is going to be a
very delicate operation, and will therefore require proper timing.
|
