HSA and HCCI nurses aid in Bahamas relief efforts

A team of six registered nurses from the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority (HSA) and Health City Cayman Islands (HCCI) left Grand Cayman on Friday, 20 September to join the disaster relief efforts in Bahamas providing relief support to healthcare workers in the care of persons who require medical attention in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian.

The medical team members include Maria Barnes-Campbell, Marlon Soriano, Riley Ondoy and Marian Slater of the HSA and Joseph John and Mahesha Dundumadaiah of HCCI. Over the next two weeks the group will be conducting clinics and assisting with any other necessary medical care in Marsh Harbour, Abaco Islands.

“We are happy to provide some respite time for our healthcare counterparts in the Bahamas to allow them to look after themselves and their families. As healthcare professionals we are required to provide 24 hour medical care regardless of our personal circumstances,” said HSA Chief Executive Officer Lizzette Yearwood. “We have sent experienced health professionals whose areas of specialty range from critical care and operating room to maternity and emergency care.”

HCCI Clinical Director and Chief Cardiac Surgeon Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil stated, “We are very pleased to send medical staff to assist in the Cayman Islands’ hurricane relief effort in the Bahamas, and give our thanks to the Ministry of Health and the Health Services Authority, especially the Hon Minister Seymour, CEO Lizzette Yearwood and Chief Medical Officer Dr John Lee for coordinating this initiative. It is heartwarming to see our islands’ Caymankind ethos in action from a medical perspective. All of Cayman’s healthcare providers work together locally for the good of our patients every day, and we are extending this spirit of fraternity as we join together to assist our Bahamian neighbors in their time of need.”

“As a country that has witnessed first-hand the devastating aftermath of a Category 5 storm as a result of Hurricane Ivan, our hearts go out to our Caribbean neighbours in the Bahamas,” said Minister of Health, Environment, Culture and Housing, Hon Dwayne Seymour. “The Cayman Islands will continue to do our best to provide the support needed to help the people of the Bahamas regain stability and to alleviate some of the challenges they are facing during this difficult and overwhelming time.”

Earlier this month all three hospitals in Grand Cayman provided the Bahamas with over 4,000 pounds of medical supplies.

Ms Yearwood noted that, a second group will be sent in early October to give respite to the nurses who will return home.