Jamaica has received 21 state-of-the-art patient monitors from the Federal Republic of Germany, valued at US$25,000, for distribution to several health facilities.

Patient monitors are devices used to measure, record, and display various patient parameters, such as heart rate and rhythm, blood pressure, temperature, respiratory rate and blood oxygen saturation to keep track of patients’ health and provide them with high- quality healthcare.

Speaking at the handover ceremony on Monday (March 16) at the Office of the Prime Minister in St. Andrew, Minister of Health Dr Christopher Tufton said the monitors will be utilised in procedures across the island, “indeed, across the five parishes where our hospitals, our health centres and equipment were badly damaged”.

Tufton told his audience that they are “timely and necessary” and will be put to good use based on the needs that are on the ground.

“We appreciate them. Let the partnership continue, and thanks to all who have been part of this process,” the minister said.

The items were facilitated through the ministry’s charitable arm, the National Healthcare Enhancement Foundation (NHEF).

For her part, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamina Johnson Smith described the donation as a demonstration of “true partnership where the ministry tells us what they need and we engage with our international partners who then provide them”.

She also lauded the German Embassy in Jamaica for its support to communities affected by Hurricane Melissa.

“Thank you for the support you have given to schools and shelters, going out yourselves, you and your team at the embassy, going out and doing some of the physical labour, working with the communities and making sure that the relationship between our countries is also experienced at a people-to-people level,” she said.

“The dynamism of our relationship goes beyond health and disaster response, and that goes into other areas, more technical areas, which we continue to build on as well,” the minister continued.

Meanwhile, German Ambassador Jan Hendrik van Thiel said he was very pleased to provide support to Jamaica on behalf of his country.

“I am standing here, very proud for the people of Germany, who want us to do this,” the ambassador said.