Port Antonio hospital gets $5m in beds, supplies from Portland Eastern MP

PORTLAND, Jamaica—The Port Antonio hospital received two more Stryker beds valued at $5 million and other medical supplies last week from Portland Eastern Member of Parliament Isat Buchanan, in partnership with the Pennant Hill Foundation and Funding Guide Outreach from the United States of America. Buchanan, in addressing those present said “there are a minimum of 12 Stryker beds which are the surgery or critical care beds and they are electronic. There are at least two hill round beds as well as maternity beds." Crutches, wheelchairs, oxygen cylinders, waffles and canes were also donated. "There are 86 beds in the United States for this hospital, so we are trying to find out whether or not we will be kind [donating] to our brothers and sisters in the east and the west because we're one Jamaica. I did promise 10, I think today it's about 15 plus beds," the MP said.

Isat Buchanan Portland Eastern Member of Parliament (left) and Physiotherapist Samantha Davis examining some of the donated items.

Earlier this year he presented two Stryker beds and promised to get more. Buchanan commended the staff at the hospital, especially the technical staff, for assembling the Stryker beds that were presented before, and for treating patients with “pride and human dignity". Buchanan told the Observer “I want to introduce mobile x-ray machines and mobile ultrasounds”. Jermaine Murray from the Pennant Hill Foundation said “It’s a pleasure for us to assist as it is a lot of work and being able to serve the people along with my colleague Collon Heron. We are not going to stop pouring into our people”.

Isat Buchanan MP Portland Eastern (Left) and Althea Gardener CEO Port Antonio Hospital (Right) looks at two of the beds presented.

Neil Phillips, the founder of Guide Outreach based in Atlanta said: “We have strong commitments to Portland, Jamaica and Port Antonio specifically, as well as St Catherine. We've been operating in Portland and providing resources for students, scholarships, school resources and other items over the last few years. I saw a lot of need here locally, healthcare needs for the local community. People want to know that resources are present. My hope is that with these resources, we continue to build trust in the community so that people know that right here in their own backyard, they can get the care, they can get the support and the services that they need to live and to live for a long time." —Everard Owen