Thanksgiving Day was truly a day for giving thanks at Health City, with the groundbreaking of a multi-million dollar state-of-the-art cancer treatment centre. The new centre will mean that patients from the Cayman Islands will be able to receive medical and surgical oncological treatments, as well as radiotherapy, without having to travel to the US for lengthy treatments at a particularly stressful time.
Present at the groundbreaking ceremony were plenty of government leaders, including Premier Hon Alden McLaughlin and Minister of Health, Hon. Dwayne Seymour, H.E. the Governor, Martyn Roper, as well as senior representatives from Health City.
“Today we are celebrating more than a ground breaking; We are breaking new ground in the fight against cancer not only for our community but also for our overseas visitors,” Mr. McLaughlin said. “This new cancer treatment facility will provide medical oncology, surgical oncology, and radiation, all under one roof, as well as being a bone-marrow transplant facility. It will complement the current cancer treatment capabilities that we have here on island, it will also mean that many who are in our community dealing with cancer will have an alternative to have to travel off-island for treatment. Also it will attract international patients from around the region who are seeking up-to-date and effective cancer treatment at an affordable cost.
“Many across Central America and the Caribbean are unable to receive cancer treatment in the USA due to costs, but also the inability of many of the regions’ citizens to obtain a US visa. This addition to Health City’s scope of services will solidify its position as the preeminent medical tourism facility in the Caribbean, and the entity which brought the concept of destination health care to the Cayman Islands.”
Minister of Health Dwayne Seymour said: “This facility has brought a level of specialized medical care previously unavailable anywhere in the Caribbean region. Oncology is an area of health care where unfortunately, the need has been growing continually Most of us will have a friend or a family member who has battled with the disease …It is not an easy road, and until now, loved ones have had to struggle in their journeys often far from home, and sometimes alone. There are many logistical barriers in having medical treatment overseas, especially for an extended period of time, not least is the additional cost of travel, and accommodation.”
As he introduced Dr. Binnoy Chattuparambil, Health City’s Clinical Director, Master of Ceremonies Shomari Scott said: “I believe that God walks with him and his team of officials who show us miracles, small and large, each and every single day. They save lives.”
Dr. Chattuparambil said; “Thank you for joining us to celebrate this auspicious milestone in Health City Cayman Islands development. A further step in providing high quality, and affordable health care for the people of the Cayman Islands and the wider Caribbean region, Central America, and beyond. This multimillion dollar facility is here to fill a health care gap, for the Cayman Islands and for the surrounding region. In the near future we will provide medical oncology, surgical oncology and radio oncology under one roof. We are committed to remaining on the forefront of medical innovation.”
Then it was time for each VIP to take golden shovel, glinting in the morning sunshine, and break new ground.
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