Scotiabank Donates Additional $2.5 Million to UHWI for Advanced Oxygen Therapy Machines

Scotiabank has continued its commitment to the local and global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic with a donation JM$2,500,000 for the purchase of five Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) Systems to The University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), Kingston, Jamaica.

“Through this donation, Scotiabank is again maintaining our commitment to bolstering Jamaica’s healthcare system as we navigate this defining period in our history,” said Yanique Forbes-Patrick, VP Public Affairs and Communications — Scotiabank Jamaica.

The BiPAP machine provides non-invasive ventilation used to facilitate breathing. The equipment is critical based on the medical discovery during the pandemic that less invasive forms of ventilation care are safer for patients battling COVID-19.

“Given that The UHWI is one of only two hospitals designated to treat COVID-19 patients in the Kingston, St. Andrew and St Catherine metropolitan area, it’s imperative that they are able to offer a high standard of care. Unfortunately the hospital did not have any of these machines and Scotiabank was more than happy to provide the funding to procure them,” said Forbes-Patrick.

To date Jamaica has seen over 50,000 COVID-19 cases with just over 1,000 COVID-19 related deaths. “Scotiabank has been a friend in need and a friend indeed. During this challenging time of COVID -19 pandemic, we are grateful that the Bank has continued to play a pivotal role in supporting the UHWI in its endeavour to provide quality care to all Jamaicans. The latest donation will go a long way in supporting both COVID19 and non COVID 19 patients who need this level of support, “shared Dr. Kevin Metalor, Head Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care at UHWI.

Dr.Carl Bruce, Medical Chief of Staff at the UHWI expressed gratitude on behalf of the board and staff of the medical institution, thanking Scotiabank for being a good corporate citizen in a time when medical resources in the country were already being stressed.

“We are all Jamaicans, and as part of this community Scotiabank wants to ensure that we play our role in supporting our health care system in the fight against COVID-19,” Forbes-Patrick further noted.

This recent donation is one of several that Scotiabank has made since the start of the pandemic to assist the country’s response. In March 2020, Scotiabank donated $15,000,000 JMD towards the purchase of ventilators for the UHWI. Later that year in July a need for a Flow Nasal Oxygen machine arose, and the Bank assisted in procuring one at a cost of JM$500,000.

In August 2020, a further USD$5,000 was pledged to support the efforts of the Mona-Tech Engineering Services Limited and a small team of local engineers. Their aim was to save local hospitals millions in equipment repair and replacement costs for ventilators.