New hospital charity begins long road to $8.7 million

(CNS): A new charitable foundation which intends to raise cash for much needed equipment and improvements for government hospitals has now been formally launched and has collected its first $35,000 — a very small step towards the almost $9million it hopes to eventually raise. The Caring for Life Foundation (CFLF) will be like similar foundations in Europe and North America, operating independently of the HSA and government and working as a charitable trust with a board of advisers assessing needs and expenditures, Bruce John, the founder of the trust said.At the official launch of the foundation last Wednesday week, John who is a Scotiabank Director cited a five-page list detailing $8.7 million in needed equipment and improvements.

He said the foundation would seek equipment, “for the medical, maternity and surgical wards, the operating theatre, accident and emergency, dialysis, pathology laboratory , the hospital’s plant and facilities, and the critical care unit, just to name a few”.

The CFLF will also work closely with the Cayman Islands Cancer Society, the Heart Fund and the Kidney Foundation to raise money for equipment, enabling them to perhaps “focus their attention on education, research and assisting” patients who can’t afford treatment. “Many of the best hospitals in North America and Europe became world-class medical centres through donations made by the public to foundations established to invest in their health care,” John said.

The HSA’s Chief Executive, Lizette Yearwood said she was thrilled about the creation of the foundation and welcomed John’s efforts. “This is a tremendous boost to our efforts, the work of the HSA and, in fact, the entire healthcare industry in the Cayman Islands,” she said. “The foundation will provide enormous and much-needed support for the health and well-being of the population and will help us to keep pace with developments locally and internationally.”

The health minister has also thanked John, saying the efforts of the CFLF would contribute to the well-being of everyone in the Cayman Islands, and greatly assist the HSA in procuring much-needed equipment and possibly even building improvements. “It is very difficult for the HSA, given its mandate, to procure new equipment and building improvements, particularly during these difficult financial times’” Scotland said at last week’s launch. “This is truly a gift to all the people of the Cayman Islands, and we are deeply grateful for the efforts of Mr John, his board of advisers and the dedicated group of concerned individuals who worked so hard in the last three years to make this possible,” Mark Scotland said.

The Governor of the Cayman Islands Duncan Taylor gave his blessing to the foundation at a ceremony at Government House where John thanked the Foster family, Walker’s Attorneys-at-Law, the Pink Ladies and Scotiabank organisations for pledging the first $35,000 that evening.

The bank, he said, had allocated additional money for an annual golf tournament, to be inaugurated on 26 November at the North Sound Golf Club with initial sponsorship from Princess World Jewelers. All monies raised will be donatedto the CFLF.

“We have a dedicated, caring and talented group of professionals and staff in our public hospitals, and the CEO and the Board of the HSA have made significant progress in improving the quality of care over the last few years, but they are in need of our help,” he said.