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Basseterre, St. Kitts, August 24, 2019 (SKNIS): Delivery of services at the Joseph Nathaniel France (JNF) General Hospital received an added boost, when two 2018 model ambulances were donated to the health-based institution on Friday, August 23, by the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board.

“Today in particular the Social Security Board is elated to officially hand over two conversion ambulances to enhance the emergency response capabilities of the Joseph N France Hospital. This significant sum totaling over half a million dollars, but in particular $568,183.00 represents a little over two years’ worth of donations to the healthcare…,” said Antonio Maynard, Director of St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board during a handing over ceremony at JNF. “…we take great pleasure honouring this special request and additional sum because we do recognize the importance of having functional, fully loaded, and technologically advanced ambulances as a part of our fleet. Thus, it was necessary for these vehicles to be purchased and to be commissioned to meet the needs of those requiring emergency care especially in this environment,” he added.

The director said that with the donation the organization “demonstrates its continued commitment to the delivery and advancement of healthcare throughout the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, adding that the Board understands the importance of having good health services and a healthy workforce.

Minister of State with responsibility for Health, the Honourable Senator Wendy Phipps, expressed the Ministry of Health’s appreciation in receiving such tangible donation.

“I wish to join with all other previous speakers here this morning to say how delighted the Ministry of Health is to be on the receiving end of what I consider to be a very generous donation to the advancement of healthcare in St. Kitts and Nevis, specifically to our institution-based healthcare system as we continue to buildout the emergency medical response in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Minister Phipps.

She added that the contribution brings to total five ambulances available for use in St. Kitts.

“This is a welcomed improvement for us because what we want to see ideally is that each of the hospitals in St. Kitts has at least one bus in the case of the two outposts – Pogson and Mary Charles,” Senator Phipps stated. “But then to have at JNF, because of the share size of coverage provided by this hospital, which is basically ground zero for emergency care, that we should have at least maybe three of four buses assigned here and fortunately be able to build in some redundancy so that you allow for down time for the ambulances so that you don’t wear out one over the other. So, we are getting to that mark.”