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By Peta-Gay Hodges
Jamaica Correspondent
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – The public health system has benefitted from a donation of medical supplies valued at approximately $67.5 million from International Gospel Recording Artiste and Pastor, Donnie McClurkin, through his Perfecting Faith Ministries.
Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, who received the supplies during a ceremony at the Courtleigh Hotel in Kingston on Monday, June 2, expressed appreciation on behalf of the Government and people of Jamaica.
He noted that each year the work of the Ministry of Health is complemented by the involvement of numerous donors.
“Medical missions like yours have saved us millions over the years,” Dr. Ferguson said.
He informed that in 2012, the government saved an estimated US$637,000 as a result of contributions from 172 medical missions, while in 2013 approximately US$990,000 was saved from just over 200 missions.
“When we look at those figures for the past two years we realize right away that this particular donation (US$625,000) is very significant coming from a single group,” he emphasized.
The Minister explained that with 24 public hospitals and over 300 primary health care facilities providing care for 2.8 million people, the constraints are great. He added that partnerships such as the one with McClurkin can improve efficiency of the sector, acquire much needed supplies and equipment and broaden access to services by Jamaicans.
Dr. Ferguson said that in the distribution process, he would like to see some of the critical primary care centres being beneficiaries of the supplies, based on the fact that the 300 health centres combined see more patients than the 24 hospitals together.
The Perfecting Faith team handed over three containers with 2,942 cases carrying 3.5 million pieces of medical sundry equipment to be delivered to the South East, North East and Western Regional Health Authorities for distribution.
