Rotary Club of Road Town Donates Another Dialysis Machine to Peebles Hospital
Thursday, April 26 – The Rotary Club of Road Town donated a second dialysis machine to the Peebles Hospital Dialysis Unit during a brief handover on Wednesday, 26th April 2012.
As another indication of their commitment to the enhancement of healthcare in the Virgin Islands, the donation came as a result of an increase in patients being served in the unit. Currently, the unit is fully utilized six days a week, as nurses work overtime with nine units, serving fifty-one patients.
R to L: Nurse Emalyn Cataquain (Dialysis Nurse), Mr. Ed de Castro (Rotarian and member of the BVIHSA Board), Mr. Joe Roberts (Rotarian and Dialysis Patient), Ms. Lavina Liburd (Rotarian), Mr. Charles Benjamin (Immediate Past President (IPP) of RCRT), Mr. Ryan Geluk (Rotarian), Ms. Yvonne Crabbe (President of the RCRT), Mr. Robert ‘Bob’ Sullivan (Rotary Club Oklahoma City), Mrs. Cedorene Patricia Malone Smith (Director of Hospital Services), and Bishop John I. Cline (Chairman of the BVIHSA Board).
In her welcome, President of the Rotary Club of Road Town (RCRT), Ms. Yvonne Crabbe noted that since their first donation of a dialysis machine in 2008, there has been an almost 50% increase in the number of patients being cared for. Ms. Crabbe said, “Ladies and Gentleman, these numbers speak large volumes, as it relates to the increasing number of persons being diagnosed with kidney disease, and the demand for more dialysis units.
The unit is maxed out in terms of space and machines in which they have to serve patients.”
Spearheaded by the Immediate Past President (IPP) of RCRT, Mr. Charles Benjamin, the project came to a reality through efforts of the Rotary Club of Road Town, the Rotary Club of Oklahoma City, the District Designated funds for the Host Club and the International Club, the Rotary Club Foundation, friends in the United States Virgin Islands, and through the kind support of the BVI population at different Rotary events. The total cost of the machine is $24,000.00. During his remarks, IPP Benjamin highlighted the overview of the project. “I challenged the members of the RCRT to help to make the club bigger, better and bolder…and they responded…as health is among the areas of high focus on Rotary’s list of priorities,” he explained. He also mentioned the great accomplishments Rotary has made in their quest to eradicate polio.
Visiting the Territory and representing the Rotary Club Oklahoma City, Mr. Robert ‘Bob’ Sullivan said that, “the Rotary Club of Oklahoma City is the third largest club in the world with a membership of over 600. We are involved in seven international programmes currently, including Literacy Tutoring in Turkey, a Cardiac Monitoring in Romania and Bulgaria, and water projects in Panama and Guatemala. We are very proud to be a part of this programme.” He ended by saying that his club could perhaps assist in donating a third dialysis machine.”
Minister of Health and Social Development, Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton, who is also a Rotarian and the first President of the Rotary Club of Road Town, thanked the Rotary Club for their donation and said, “This is extremely important to this government’s agenda in improving health services in the Virgin Islands; we are encouraging as many businesses and individuals to contribute to the health services in the BVI.” The Honourable Minister also highlighted the severity of the situation as it relates to kidney failure and assured that his government is committed to making sure that the resources donated to the health services are used efficiently and effectively.
The ceremony ended with a vote of thanks by Rotarian Joe Roberts, who is also a Dialysis patient. Among others, Rotarian Roberts extended his gratitude to the nurses who go above and beyond with care, everyday. After the ceremony, Bishop John I. Cline, Chairman of the Health Services Authority accepted the machine on behalf of the Authority and blessed the machine.