Local hospitals join forces for Bahamas relief

Cayman’s three local hospitals joined forces to provide medical supplies to the victims of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas.

The Cayman Islands Health Service Authority (HSA), CTMH Doctors Hospital and Health City Cayman Islands rallied together to donate over 4,000 pounds in goods with the help of Cayman Airways to the Bahamian Ministry of Health. The collaboration extended beyond the hospitals with key logistical support from the Governor’s Office and Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee who assisted in making contact with officials on the ground in the Bahamas possible.

Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin said “Once again we are grateful that we can call on the services of our national airline Cayman Airways. I want to thank the Deputy Premier Moses Kirkconnell and the staff at Cayman Airways for their support in ensuring this humanitarian relief reaches those in need as well as the Cayman medical community for working together to assist our neighbours.”

Survivors of Hurricane Dorian will receive items needed for medical care including medication, diapers, gloves, bandages, gauze, etc, which were transported Monday 16 September via Cayman Airways. In addition to the supplies, HSA’s EMS Manager, Stephen Duval, coordinated with US-based ambulance supplier, Global Medical Response, to facilitate the donation of eight ambulances to the affected islands of Grand Bahama and Abaco.

“The coordination and collaboration required to bring together this sizable donation from Cayman’s healthcare community was a grassroots effort between both public and private sector hospitals to provide medical relief to the people of the Bahamas,” said Minister of Health, Environment, Culture and Housing the Hon Dwayne Seymour. “As our community comes together to support the victims of Hurricane Dorian, we are reminded of the positive humanity around us and can empathize with our Bahamian neighbours as they begin to rebuild after Hurricane Dorian’s extensive devastation to their islands.”

The Health Services Authority, CTMH Doctors Hospital and Health City Cayman Islands will also work together should a disaster strike the Cayman Islands. All three hospitals sit on a Medical Relief Sub-Committee, led by HSA CEO Ms. Lizzette Yearwood. The committee, along with other public and private sector partners, ensures the preparedness of medical relief of the Cayman population before, during and after a major disaster or disease outbreak. The Medical Relief Sub-Committee along with the CMO, has a team of medical professionals from the three hospitals who are standing by to assist the Bahamian Government in their recover efforts.

“At Health City Cayman Islands, we have been deeply saddened by the devastation wrought by Hurricane Dorian in Abaco and Grand Bahama,” said Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil, Clinical Director & Chief Cardiac Surgeon, Health City Cayman Islands. “We are committed to providing access to medical care throughout the Caribbean, and wish to do all that we can to assist the people of the Bahamas during this difficult time. Our role in the relief effort will focus on providing urgent medical care, and we are hoping to send medical personnel in the near future, at present we will start with medicines and medical supplies as part of the overall relief mission from the Cayman Islands. We work closely with the Bahamas physician community and welcome the opportunity to be a part of this humanitarian effort. We are very proud of our team members who will be doing their part to assist the people of Bahamas.”

“When we reflect on Hurricane Ivan fifteen years ago, we can only imagine the devastation that the people of Grand Bahama and Abaco, and their healthcare system have experienced”, said CTMH

Doctors Hospital Board Chairman and Chief of Radiology Dr. Yaron Rado. “As fellow healthcare professionals, and island neighbours, it is our duty and honour to help. We are all in this together.”

(L to R): Paul Tibbetts, Executive Vice President Finance & Commercial Affairs, Cayman Airways; Fabian Whorms, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cayman Airways; Shomari Scott, Director of Business Development, Health City Cayman Islands; Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil, Clinical Director & Chief Cardiac Surgeon, Health City Cayman Islands; Lizzette Yearwood, Chief Executive Officer, Cayman Islands Health Services Authority; Dr. Yaron Rado, CTMH Doctors Hospital Board Chairman and Chief of Radiology