Chain of Hope medics feted

Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

They are not often in the news as unlike the many whose supposed passion for helping the poor is always executed in the glare of cameras. There are those who work tirelessly giving time, service, money and support to making the lives of this country's less fortunate far more tolerable.

When it comes to charity, very few equal the Britain-based group Chain of Hope, founded by renowned British heart surgeon, Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub with the mandate of providing life-saving cardiac surgery to children in less developed countries. In all probability, these children would die without the benefit of such intervention. With such a noble cause, the organisation has been inspiring all and sundry to support in its efforts.

Here in Jamaica, Chain of Hope organisation has not only seen many internationally renowned cardiologists donating time and services in treating critically ill children, but the organisation has been instrumental in upgrading the facilities of the Bustamante Hospital for Children to facilitate cardiac care, surgery and maintenance. This is in its effort to improve the survival chances of the hundreds of children born each year with cardiac defects, leaving them in need of corrective surgery in order to survive.

In this respect, the organisation has been spearheading the transfer of technology to improve and enhance the care and capacity of the Bustamante Hospital for Children, as well as the sponsoring of the continuing education of doctors of the institution. This includes special study assignments in hospitals in London, under the auspices of the organisation; but perhaps more important are the visiting clinics sponsored by the organisation that sees a team of cardiologists, anaesthesiologists, nurses and support staff visiting Jamaica to donate their skills and service by performing surgery on critically ill children.

This they have been doing for the last 15 years or so and as word of their charity is spread by many a grateful patients or their families.

And so it is that with the growing awareness, there has been heightened interest and support resulting in a number of corporate entities lending their support to the cause. The cause has also benefited from the publicity brought by international reggae superstar Shaggy. More lives are being saved, more technology transferred and more upgrade of facilities accommodated by the intervention from Chain of Hope!

Recently a team of medical personnel, including doctors, consultants, nurses and coordinators was in Jamaica donating time in surgery at the Bustamante Hospital for Children. Upon completion of their many hours of surgery, businessman and philanthropist Kenny Benjamin and his companion, the lovely Aloima Suarez, threw a charming thank-you dinner in their honour at their fabulous Stony Hill estate.

Dears, it was an evening of fine repast, relaxed mood and appreciation, as the evening was spent enjoying light live music as the visiting delegation shared stories with their Jamaican partners and hosts over premium libations prior to returning to London.

The beauty of the medical delegation is their continuing commitment to giving of themselves and their considerable talent to making the life of the economically disadvantaged and ailing better through life-giving surgery. And there's no escaping the sense of devotion and care shared by the group when it comes to giving back and this makes them truly an inspirational story!

The dinner was an acknowledgement of the many sacrifices made by the medical team to make their gift of life to the children possible! Dinner taken however, the host spoke briefly, expressing his appreciation to them for their continued service to the people of Jamaica, particularly as those benefiting could ill-afford the prohibitive costs of surgeries.

A sentiment also endorsed by Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson.

Also out were Tourism Minister Dr Wykeham McNeill and wife Sheila Benjamin-McNeill; chair of the South Eastern Regional Health Authority, Tanny Shirley; honorary consul of Iceland and A-crowder Robert MacMillan; celebrated attorney Harold Brady; the visiting delegation included the CEO of Chain of Hope, the very charmingly lovely Emma Scanlan; mission coordinator Lucy Ossack; Dr Gavin Wright, who has the distinction of being present at the history-making performance of Bob Marley at Zimbabwean Independence celebrations; Dr Vibeke Hjortdal; Dr Alan Magee; Lucy Silver; Indie Bilkhoo; Gary Gilmour; Roman Karpinski; the elegant Sonia Sutherland Dumetz; Capt Rupert Bent and wife Cindy Breakspeare; renowned architect Evan Williams; R. Christene King; Al Niazi; the oh so fabulously pleasant Dr Cleopatra Patterson of the Bustamante Hospital for Children; Vinay Walia; Earl and Carol Lewis; plus a number of others.

Indeed, it was one very charming do and in celebration of a most fitting and continuing cause!

Photos by Chester Francis-Jackson