Equipment donated from Sandals Foundation’s Island Run gives Antiguan babies a second chance.

The Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Antigua and Barbuda has received a donation of USD $25,000 from the Sandals Foundation.

This donation was funded by the proceeds from Island Run Antigua held in 2023. The donation will help the centre provide life-saving intervention and support to babies in urgent need.

The donation includes a transport incubator, electrocardiogram, hearing screener, and infantometer which will be used to support premature babies and those who need medical attention due to complications.

This donation follows a previous one from October 2023, where the Sandals Foundation donated jaundice screening and blood gas analysis machines to the centre.

Dr. Shivon Belle-Jarvis, Consultant Paediatrician and Head of the Paediatric Department, has expressed that this equipment will make a significant difference in the care provided to patients in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

The transport incubator will provide a warm environment, which is crucial in reducing heat loss as babies are transported from one location to another. The infantometer will be used to measure the length of infants, which is a crucial part of monitoring their growth.

The Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre has been a recipient of the Sandals Foundation’s support for a long time, and Dr. Belle-Jarvis describes this partnership as priceless. She believes that without the necessary equipment, they would not be where they are today in providing optimal care for the most vulnerable and promising children in society.

The Sandals Foundation’s Executive Director, Heidi Clarke, has expressed that this donation represents their continued commitment to support the sustainable development of the island’s healthcare services and strengthen paediatric health programmes that serve families in Antigua and Barbuda and beyond.

The Sandals Foundation hosted Island Run Antigua in October 2023, which aimed at raising funds to support children’s health across the Caribbean.

The proceeds from the historic run have also been invested in the Endowment Fund of SickKids Caribbean Initiative (SCI) to treat childhood cancers and serious

The Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre is the only acute care facility in Antigua that offers 24-hour emergency care for babies in need of critical care as well as those born prematurely.

Since 2016, the Sandals Foundation has donated two Comprehensive Infant Care Centres and other life-changing medical equipment, including vital sign monitors, electronic scales, paediatric beds, hand-held pulse oximeters, and cardiac monitors, benefiting almost 1000 children per year.

This year, the Sandals Foundation proudly commemorates its 15th anniversary of empowering the lives of over 1.5 million people across the Caribbean region through initiatives focused on education, community development, and environmental conservation.