Development Bank boosts medical students’ fundraising efforts

Business Support Officer at the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis, Mrs Vernitha Maynard (centre) presenting donation cheque to Dr Cameron Wilkinson and Dr Natalie Osborne.

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS (April 10, 2013) — In an effort to give back to the institution that has offered them practical training opportunities, members of the St. Kitts Medical Students Association have been raising funds to support the Joseph N. France General Hospital.

A concert organised by the association at Club Mapau in February raised $14,000 which has been put into proper use at the referral hospital, but the fundraising continues. On Monday April 8, the association’s fundraising efforts received a shot in the arm when the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis donated $4,000 towards this noble cause.

The cheque was presented by Mrs Vernitha Maynard, Business Support Officer, who observed that the medical students while gaining knowledge at the nation’s premier medical facility, they were also contributing to the wellbeing of the residents of the Federation, and that the Development Bank supported their initiative as “a nation’s health is a nation’s wealth.”

Receiving the cheque on behalf of the association was Dr Cameron Wilkinson, Medical Chief of Staff at the Joseph N. France General Hospital, who said: “There are a number of students from the two medical schools here, Windsor University and the University of Medical and Health Sciences, who rotate through the hospital and in addition to gaining the very good education, they use the hospital resources.

“We have tried to instil in them the need for them to give back to the institution and one of the things that were done the students’ association was formed and we had our first fundraiser this year in February, and from this concert we raised over $14,000.”

According to Dr Wilkinson, who was accompanied by Dr Natalie Osborne, one of the organisers of the concert, after the money was handed to the hospital authorities it has been used to buy two patient care monitors that are used to check the patient’s blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate, and temperature.

The monitors were placed in the recovery room at the Joseph N France Hospital, noted the Medical Chief of Staff. Also bought were a microwave oven and a projector.

“We were happy that the Development Bank came on board and they were one of the first persons to respond to our letter asking for support, by giving this cheque of $4,000,” noted Dr Wilkinson. He advised that “the fundraising is ongoing, because we have a number of little things that we will continue to purchase.”