Min of Health receives additional ventilators

Min of Health receives additional ventilators

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Ministry of Health gained another shot in the arm in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic with the receipt of four ventilators to augment its acute care efforts.

The ventilators were donated by two prominent families of Canada — the Munks and the Rogers — and were presented to Minister of Health Renward Wells during an official ceremony at the Ministry of Health on Friday, November 27, 2020. Two of the ventilators were donated to the ministry and the other two were donated to a private health facility on Grand Bahama.

Procurement of the medical machines was facilitated by local heart specialist Dr. Conville Brown, founder and physician-in-chief as well as chief cardiologist at Bahamas Heart Centre and the Medical Pavilion Bahamas, who said he was pleased to have been able to facilitate the donation.

As Wells thanked the Canadian families for their donation, he underscored the importance of such a donation.

“On behalf of the government and people of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, the Ministry of Health extends gratitude for these donations of ventilators from the Munks and Rogers families,” he said.

“Their generosity aids in our country’s overall healthcare advancement and is especially beneficial during this pandemic where so many have needed the assistance of a ventilator to survive.”

The minister also acknowledged the presence of Brown and thanked him for receiving the donation from the Munks and Rogers families.

He noted that for nearly 50 years, The Bahamas has enjoyed an abiding partnership with Canada.

“It is my understanding that early on in the COVID-19 pandemic, when similar to the rest of the world, our necessary medical supplies were declining, two Canadian families decided to assist our healthcare system by procuring much sought-after ventilators,” Wells said.

He added, “As much as it is hoped that those accessing our healthcare system will never have to use a ventilator, the reality is that emergency situations constantly occur.

“Having the increased capacity to assist in saving more lives is invaluable.”

A Ministry of Health statement said the ventilators are “dual electronically and battery-powered” and “valued at just over $100,000”.

“Currently in the public healthcare system, there are just fewer than 90 ventilators available, with 15 at the Rand Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahama and the remainder in New Providence,” the statement read.