Scotiabank boosts medical capacity for the fight against COVID-19 and beyond

Kingston, Jamaica – July 3, 2020 - Scotiabank yesterday (July 2) brought to a total of $15.5 million, the amount it has contributed this year to the bolstering of the local healthcare system in light of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Following a $15 million cash donation in March towards the purchase of ventilators for the island’s public hospitals, the Bank deepened its commitment with a further donation of $500,000 to facilitate the purchase of additional equipment for the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI).

The donation of a Flow Nasal Oxygen machine was requested by the Hospital particularly because it can be used in the early management of patients with respiratory symptoms and can possibly reduce the number of patients who may end up needing a ventilator.

Scotiabank is among several leading members of the PSOJ that has provided monetary support to the island’s healthcare facilities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking during a brief handover ceremony at the Hospital on Thursday, David Noel, President and CEO of Scotiabank expressed that the Bank was again happy to be able to contribute. “We all live here, we are a part of this community and we want to ensure that we play our role in equipping our nation’s health care workers, who already work miracles, to deliver the highest standard of care,” Mr. Noel said.

“Insufficient medical equipment continues to be a challenge and Scotiabank continues to play our part in helping to address some of the gaps. Through this donation, we are addressing a critical need to increase the availability of life-saving equipment in our nation’s hospitals even beyond the threat of COVID-19,” further explained Audrey Tugwell Henry, Executive Vice President for Retail Banking, who symbolically handed over the additional donation.

While this latest donation was prompted by the immediate threat of the novel coronavirus global pandemic, she further noted that the company has always had an interest in helping the country to address the shortage of critical medical equipment.

Dr. Kelvin Metalor, ICU Director at the UHWI expressed gratitude on behalf of the Hospital. “The provision of adequate and high quality healthcare requires a lot of resources. In a system that is already stressed, COVID 19 served to provide additional pressure. Scotiabank being the good corporate citizen that it is has once again stepped in to provide assistance to patients at the UHWI continue to benefit from the support given by Scotiabank over a number of years,” Dr. Metalor said. He also noted the usefulness of the equipment donated in increasing the capacity of the ICU to deliver care to both critically ill adults and paediatric patients long after the threat of the COVID -19 pandemic.

Also in attendance were Dr. Carl Bruce, Medical Chief of Staff, M. David Walker, Director of Interventional Suite, Dr. Hyacinth Harding-Goldson, Programme Director, Clinical and Fellowship in Critical Care Medicine, Dr. Marinna Scarlett, HOD Section Anaesthesia & Intensive Care and UWHI Hospital CEO, Mr. Kevin Allen.

Representing the Minister of Health, Courtney Cephas, Executive Director of the Health for Life and Wellness Foundation in the Ministry of Health and Wellness also thanked Scotiabank for its consistent support for healthcare in Jamaica.

“The fight against COVID-19 is not for any one person or organization. We are all in this together and we continue to laud the significant contribution of private entities like Scotiabank who tirelessly support the efforts of the Government in improving the local health care system. We express our thanks on behalf of the people of Jamaica and the families who will ultimately benefit,” Cephas said.

Globally, Scotiabank has donated over USD 2.5 million towards various programmes and initiatives aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19.

Scotiabank is a leading bank in the Americas. Guided by our purpose: “for every future,” we help our customers, their families and their communities achieve success through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of approximately 97,000 employees and assets of over $1.2 trillion (as at April 30, 2020), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BNS) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BNS). For more information, please visit http://www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @ScotiabankViews.

Contact:

Yanique Forbes-Patrick | Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications
Yanique.forbes-patrick@scotiabank.com

Danielle Savory |Manager, Public Affairs and Communications
Danielle.savory@scotiabank.com