Members of the Lions Club and BVIHSA posing with the newly donated ultrasound machine. Photo: Ron Henry/VINO

Surgical equipment donated to the hospital. Photo: Ron Henry/VINO

Dr Joel Stevens speaking during the handing over ceremony. Photo: Ron Henry/VINO

The equipment included an ultrasound machine and a set of vascular access surgical instruments inclusive of forceps, needle kits and other surgical utensils for the operating room.           

The Lions Club of Tortola in celebration of its 40^th Anniversary, in conjunction with members of the public had a joint venture with the BVIHSA. 

Past President of the Lions Club, Mr. Carvin Malone, thanked the various sponsors who contributed in various ways to the success of the Club over the years and hailed the Board of Directors and other members of the club for embracing the challenge in taking up the initiative. 

Dr Joel Stevens, a practicing surgeon, serving member of the Board of the BVIHSA and consultant at the Peebles Hospital said “I always like when I can do something that’s technologically well and makes us more efficient, but my most treasured thing is to do something that improves patient safety.” 

He thanked the Lions Club for initiating the measure and for allowing him to be a part of the process.    

Public Relations Manager of the BVIHSA, Tamara Archibald-Gill said in her remarks that she believed it was through partnerships like these that the BVIHSA was going to achieve its vision of becoming the leader and preferred provider of healthcare in the Virgin Islands (VI). 

Thanking the Lions Club for their contribution, acting CEO of the BVIHSA and Director of Hospital Services Patricia Malone-Smith said, “we recognise that we have a lot of work to do and that we cannot do it by ourselves.” She said that the best way forward therefore was to have people come alongside and help through public/private partnerships such as this. 

She explained that the organization simply did not have the capacity to provide costly items such as these currently. She noted that the Lions Club “just saw a need and filled the breach” and the Association appreciates that, adding that this is how we are going to grow as a country and move forward. 

The equipment reportedly costs some $30, 000, with the ultrasound machine representing $25, 000 of this total.