The Physiotherapy Department at the St. Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital has been bolstered with critical equipment to support stroke prevention and care.

The medical supplies are valued at just over six hundred thousand dollars (JM$600,000.00). The funds were raised by the Sandals Foundation through the 2019 Sandals Golf and Jerk Festival held in May this year.

Speaking recently at the handover ceremony, Mrs. Debra Treasure, Manager of the Physiotherapy Services at the Hospital, said the equipment will help residents beyond the north east health region.

“The closest physiotherapy department outside of this region would either be at Falmouth or at Spanish Town Hospital. Recently they opened one in Linstead but it’s still not yet fully functional. So persons in Guys Hill, St. Catherine or Kellits in Clarendon, which is quite a few hours away, still find it easier to come here for physiotherapy.” Treasure said.

The donated items comprised a recumbent exercise bike, mirror therapy box, two 9-hole pegboards, two rehabilitation hand, shoulder and arm skates, a treadmill, one digital stimulation unit and two pinch pin resistance therapy exercises for fingers and hands.

Mrs.Treasure noted that some of the items will aid in the hospital’s preventative care treatment.

“The treadmill and bicycle can be used it in our preventative work. By monitoring and assessing the performance of persons who are already predisposed to non-communicable diseases, we can help them make the necessary lifestyle changes to reduce their risk of getting a stroke.”

In addition to the services offered by the Physiotherapy unit, the supplies will also form part of the Hospital’s community outreach programme to residents..

Karen Zacca, Project Manager at Sandals Foundation commended the hospital in it’s unique approach to healthcare.

“Access to healthcare is very important and what you do to bring awareness to our communities so they can understand prevention rather than treatment is commendable.”

Sixty-seven year old Mrs. Daisy Campbell-Barrett was the first to be treated by the new rehabilitation arm skate said, “It was a good exercise, I felt very relaxed.I didn’t feel any pain.” Campbell-Barrett, who suffered a stroke four months ago, travels to the rehabilitation unit for treatment on a weekly basis.

The 2019 Sandals Golf and Jerk Festival was hosted at the Sandals Golf and Country Club in May as part of celebrating the Foundation’s 10th anniversary. Major partners included Best Dressed Chicken, Caribbean Producers Jamaica (CPJ) Limited, Starbucks, Walkerswood, Sandals Ocho Rios, Beaches Ocho Rios and Sandals Golf and Country Club. Proceeds from the tournament also support the Foundation’s “Care for Kids” Junior Golf programme.