The St. Matthias Charities Inc. has once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to the development of the local health services with a recent presentation to the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment.

 On Thursday, June 14th, 2018, a substantial donation of medical equipment and other supplies was handed over to Ministry officials during a ceremony at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. The charitable organization, which is now in its 7th year of existence, has this year provided medical supplies including: canes, crutches and wheelchairs in addition to major medical equipment including an automated dental chair, an EKG machine and two (2) crash carts.

In his address, President of the St. Matthias Charities Inc. Pastor Robert McBarnett, said that his organization has, to date, imported nine (9) containers, including two (2) forty-foot (40') containers of medical supplies into the country. While outlining several of the organization’s objectives, President McBarnett said that a major goal of the organization is to provide EKG machines to every health centre across Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

"At St. Matthias Charities Inc. our goal is to have an EKG machine in every hospital in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, in every polyclinic, in every clinic and if possible every ward area in the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital."

The president further noted that although the organization is particularly focused on providing supplemental provisions to health centres across Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, it will later this year embark on new initiatives targeting youth development, particularly in sports and nutrition.

"We believe we can bring the community together, and that's our goal, we've got to bring the youths together to get them occupied and engaged, and we believe through sports we can accomplish that." He also spoke of plans to begin a pilot nutrition programme in the schools in collaboration with the Ministry of Education particularly for athletes.

Minister of Health, Wellness and the Environment, Hon. Luke Browne, expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Ministry and by extension the government and people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, to the St. Matthias Charities Inc. for their dedication in providing yet another substantial contribution to the nation's health care services.

"We should thank this charity for its work and its commitment, this is not a fly-by-night association now, this is a relationship that has entered a stage of maturity and we appreciate how it has matured. From 2012 when St. Matthias started to come here, we might have thought that this is a one-off gesture, but they came again in subsequent years and again and again. We want them to keep coming even as they expand the scope of their reach to other countries."

Minister Browne commended the organization for their continued support and encouraged other organizations to come on board with such a profound initiative as this one.

The St. Matthias Charities Inc. will be furthering its scope of assistance to include upcoming missions to Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique next year.

 

SOURCE: API