With an urgent cry for more beds in Jamaica’s public hospitals, Seventh-day Adventist churches across the island collectively made a well-needed donation of 40 hospital beds to the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

The beds have been estimated a cost of US$120,000 and provides a much-needed boost to Jamaica’s healthcare system. The beds were handed over earlier in December at the Good Samaritan Inn in Kingston.

The donors, AdventHealth Hospital Network, an American faith-based healthcare system with 53 hospitals, headquartered near Orlando, Florida; along with Jamaica’s Adventist-run Andrews Memorial Hospital and GSI Foundation, were happy for this collaboration.  Portfolio minister Dr. Christopher Tufton was on hand to receive the gifts.

The beds will go to the Spanish Town and May Pen hospitals. In his message, which was read, Donmayne Gyles, president of Andrews Memorial Hospital remarked, “through the gift of these hospital beds, we pray that the patients who receive care at your institutions will receive comfort during their time of recovery.” 

Continuing Gyles said, “it is through projects like this, working together, that we fulfill our mission and improve the quality of care for those who are sick. We look forward to continuing to work with Andrews Memorial Hospital on future projects to benefit the people of Jamaica.”

In giving thanks for the donation, Tufton praised AdventHealth, Andrews Memorial Hospital, and the GSI Foundation for the well-needed donation saying, “this may seem simple. It has more to do with just 40 beds. The beds we have received are much more expensive than the ones at Courts; they offer many more functionalities that are important for the treatment and care of patients.”

Tufton lauded the Adventist community for being loyal partners in collaborating and supporting the health ministry.

In reaction to the donation, Errol Greene, regional director of South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA), was elated adding, “if you had 100 beds, Spanish Town Hospital alone could take all of them, so I am very happy for the contribution. I am sure that they will go a long way in the comfort level of our patients,”

Greene recalled that at the Spanish Town Hospital, “just [recently], there were 100 persons just sitting in wheelchairs, waiting to be admitted because we didn’t have any beds. So, this will go a long way in making life a lot more comfortable.”

Valrie Gordon, a St. Catherine resident, expressed delight in hearing about the donation recalling, “this year, my mother was transferred from the May Pen Hospital to the Spanish Town Hospital and had to wait three days before getting a bed, so this is a good move by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.”