Petrojam donates $1.1 million autoclave machine to Mo-Bay’s type-five health clinic

WESTERN BUREAU

State-owned company, Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (Petrojam), last week came good for the Montego Bay Type-5 Health Clinic, making a generous donation of a six-gallon Tuttnauer autoclave steriliser machine, valued at $1.1 million.

The gift by Petrojam is in keeping with its obligation to assist the much-used clinic it adopted under the Ministry of Health and Wellness Adopt-a-Clinic programme, which was initiated to generate assistance for health clinics across the island.

Petrojam General Manager Telroy Morgan, who was present for the handover, stated that, having signed a memorandum of understanding in 2013 to adopt this medical facility, the company remains committed to transforming not just its physical infrastructure, but also to support high-quality healthcare services for those who visit the facility daily.

“We have committed then, and we commit to do on a sustained basis, to support not just the welfare of the community, but to ensure that the infrastructure and technological advancement required to bring the type of A-class service to our citizens is maintained,” said Morgan.

According to Morgan, since the commencement of the three-year MOU, they have already made several substantial investments, which include the donation of an echocardiogram machine to the facility.

“So, what we’re doing today is building on the commitments we made some years ago. This donation of the autoclave is valued at around $1.1 million, and it will go a far way to serve the facilities,” said Morgan.

In explaining the importance of the autoclave steriliser machine, Morgan said it is designed to meet the demands and needs of medical, dental, and laboratory environments, noting that its advanced features, such as automatic pressure and temperature regulation programme cycles would ensure that the clinic maintains high standards in hygiene and safety in its service delivery.

“Particularly, the machine is quite reliable, efficient, and brings a safe solution that will help provide better healthcare and protect the health of those the facility serves,” said Morgan.

Since the start of the Adopt-a-Clinic initiative, 55 of the nation’s 100 health clinics have been adopted by local and international companies. Petrojam is among the 22 local companies that have adopted health centres.

“We are pleased to be a part of this collaboration to support the healthcare services of the region, which we do not only consider a responsibility, but for us, it is a privilege. It’s a privilege to serve our communities,” said Morgan. “It’s a privilege to serve Jamaica and, of course, impact in a meaningful way the lives of our personnel in and around, so we are proud to contribute to Jamaica.”

Lennox Wallace, the manager of St James Health Services, said the donation of the autoclave machine by Petrojam will go a long way in saving many lives.

“The service that it will offer values much more than the equipment that you see there. So, it’s not about the money, it’s the lives that you are saving here today, and it’s the partnership that we have forged over the years,” said Wallace.

According to Wallace, the Petrojam donation has come at an appropriate time. He pointed out that the autoclave machine is critical to the seamless operation of serving the public seven days per week.

“With the equipment that we have and a facility that operates seven days per week and goes up to 10 p.m. each day, things will break down and need to be replaced to ensure that the patients in this facility are properly cared for,” said Wallace.

He further stated that the Montego Bay Type-5 Health Clinic caters to Jamaicans from as far as St Elizabeth on the south coast and St Ann on the north coast.

“As much as we are in St James, Type-5 is really the ‘melting pot’ of western Jamaica, so if somebody comes to Montego Bay to shop, they are coming here for medical care,” said Wallace, in explaining that the clinic serves upwards of 320 patients daily.

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