TWO AMBULANCES DONATED BY SOCIAL SECURITY
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Friday 23rd August 2019
Two Ambulances Donated by Social Security
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L-R: Barbara Liburd – Manager, Benefits Dept., Vernel Powell – Deputy Director, Charlene Bowry – Senior HR Manager, Antonio Maynard – Director, Hon. Eugene Hamilton – Minister of Health et al, Tasha Hendrickson – Acting Public Relation Manager, Marilyn Johnson – C.F.O, and Jenifer Williams – Board Member
Two Ambulances, (one fully funded and one partially funded) were officially handed over by the St. Christopher & Nevis Social Security Board to the Ministry of Health for use in the delivery of health care service to the people of the Federation.
The donation totaling the sum of E.C. $568, 183.00 represents a little over two years’ worth of donations to the Health Sector as each year E.C. $270, 000.00 is allocated to the Ministries of Health on both St. Kitts and Nevis in acquiring well needed equipment to boost their capacities to meet the needs of the health sector.
“We take great pleasure in supporting health care because we do recognize the importance of having functional, fully loaded and technologically advanced Ambulances as part of our fleet, thus it was necessary for these Ambulances to be purchased and commissioned to meet the needs of those requiring emergency care,” said Director of the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board, Mr. Antonio Maynard.
The Director further added that the Board is cognizant of the correlation between good health services and a healthy workforce. “We see the impact of sickness and other contingencies on the insured populace and how loss of income by an insured member negatively impacts the contribution base and the broader economy.”
The Honorable Senator Wendy Phipps, Minister of State with Responsibility for Health, urged the Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) to be cautious in their use of the Ambulances. “The cost of emergency medical care is not cheap, it means that you have to look after the Ambulances in down time, that you don’t use and abuse them for personal use, taking chances in traffic that should not be taken, because the claims against the Government are going to increase and then it negates all the good investments that would have been placed into the provisions of the Ambulances, “ said Minister Phipps.
She also added that this is a welcomed improvement for the Ministry of Health because the ultimate goal is to have one Ambulance stationed at the two outposts: Pogson Hospital located in Sandy Point and Mary Charles Hospital in Molineux, and three at the Joseph N. France Hospital.
Minister of Health et al, the Hon. Eugene Hamilton, in his remarks applauded the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board’s commitment in assisting the Ministry of Health in improving its people’s welfare within the Health sector. “I would like to say thanks to the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board for living up to its commitment, that we can now deliver important services to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis.”
Mrs. Ann Edwards, Emergency Medical Technician-Basic, gave the vote of thanks, and this was followed by the blessings of the Ambulances by Revered Mark Christmas and a demonstration of the operations of the Ambulances were displayed by the E.M.T.’s.
Since 1993 to present, over E.C. $5 million worth of equipment have been contributed to the Health sectors by the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board. The Institution takes this opportunity to implore the general public to become advocates of wellness, access services offered by public health facilities and undergo annual examinations with your Medical Practitioners for preventive care.
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For more information, please contact:
Ms. Tasha Hendrickson
Public Relations Officer
St. Christopher & Nevis Social Security Board
Phone: 869 465 2535
Email: thendrickson@socialsecurity.kn