-faced with replacing expensive equipment
The high replacement cost of surgical equipment lost in the May 10 fire is just one of the issues the St Joseph Mercy Hospital must grapple with now as it seeks to restore all of its services to the public and losses so far have totalled $600m.
Dr Rohan Jabour, paediatrician and board member of the hospital, speaking at a press conference yesterday, revealed that “prior to the fire, plans were in progress to greatly improve our intensive care facilities and our emergency room.” However with the fire, an additional cost will have to be borne in order to replace all the equipment lost. He noted over the years the cost of equipment has risen steadily.
He said that the institution will be in contact with the Ministry of Health to determine what new equipment can be sourced through the ministry. He added that one has to be careful when asking for assistance from overseas because there is the tendency to send old equipment to developing countries.
He said that the hospital is trying to ensure that this does not happen.
With reference to President Bharrat Jagdeo’s offer to provide whatever help he can, Jabour expressed the hospital’s gratitude and the board hopes to be able to capitalise on it in the sourcing of equipment.
CEO of the hospital Helen Browman could not offer a comment on when rebuilding will commence, but said a key meeting to discuss the new face of the hospital will be held shortly. It is envisioned that with help from local and overseas health partners, the task of rebuilding can commence.
She detailed the major losses suffered including the operating room and doctors’ offices. In the fire, some of the private doctors housed at the institution lost all their equipment. The example was given of Dr. Jeffrey who is said to have lost all his prosthetic equipment.
Browman said “the day of the fire will go down in history as an irreplaceable void in the life of the hospital.” However gratitude was extended to the many persons who have assisted in the clean-up process, by their donations and by extending words of sympathy through their calls and emails. The outpouring is seen as a reminder “of the many lives Mercy Hospital has touched.”
She added, “while the fire is a tragedy, it has given us an opportunity to reflect on the tremendous role this hospital has played in Guyana”.
The hospital has set up bank accounts to receive donations from companies and individuals who would like to contribute to their rebuilding efforts. Local donors may make donations to the St Joseph Mercy Hospital Recovery Fund, Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, Account number: 2254456. Information on the hospital’s website: www.sjmh.org.gy directs overseas donors on the options available to them.
While estimated losses from the fire have so far totalled $600 million, this figure is expected to rise as private doctors at the hospital finish tabulating theirs.
According to Browman, the 32 patients and 4 babies who were in the hospital were all successfully evacuated and relocated to other facilities within two hours and 15 minutes. Fifteen resident care patients are at the Davis Memorial Hospital and are expected to be moved back to the hospital when the clean-up process is completed by this weekend.
Dr Jabour gave an overview of the history of the hospital, which caters for regular paying citizens and also functions as a not-for-profit organisation. The hospital hopes that in keeping with its role as a “Sisters of Mercy Hospital” it will be able to continue to run charitable, non-profit programmes as it reaches out to help the poor and the needy.
The fire broke out just before 07:00hrs in the upper section of the Colonna building. Thereafter a massive evacuation effort was undertaken by staff, police and firemen.