The QEH, as it is familiarly known, is the island nation’s premier healthcare facility, owned and operated by the Barbados Government. This week, several Church authorities visited the Hospital and met with management and staff to officially hand over much-needed medical equipment and supplies.
The visitors included Elder Moisés Villanueva, General Authority of the Area Seventy, and his wife, Sister Leticia Villanueva; Elder Claude R. Gamiette, an Area Authority Seventy, and his wife, Sister Delphine Gamiette; Sister Kristin Yee, Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency; Sister Susan H. Porter, Primary General President; Elder Jay and Sister Kathi Kirkham, Humanitarian Missionaries; Sister Kathie Daniel, National Communications Director, Barbados.
Ms. Gay Howell, Philanthropic Officer for the Hospital, Mr. Anthony Harris, Director of Medical Services, and Mr. Shane Sealy, Communications Specialist, were on hand to receive the donation. Also present were Mr. Henderson Pinder, the Philanthropy Officer, and several very happy members of the medical staff who expressed their joy at having greater resources to help their patients.
Elder Villanueva, who has responsibility for 29 countries in the region, disclosed that the Church has donated items worth over half a million US dollars to the Hospital during 2022-23. Elder Kirkham recounted how he had met with Debra Knight, Nursing Officer at the QEH, to discuss and plan a community outreach program to battle diabetes. As a result, the Church donated food hampers every six weeks to support needy diabetes patients with healthy food and non-perishable items. Approximately 500 hampers were supplied to help the needy.
In April 2023, Church representatives met with Ms. Gay Howell to discuss the equipment needs of the Hospital. Since that momentous event, an estimated BDS$ 712,000 worth of equipment and supplies have been donated. These items included five much-needed endoscopes and the reprocessor for cleaning them, 16 infusion pumps (including one donated by Bryden Stokes as a goodwill gesture when the Church purchased 15 of these items.) Mr. Harris, Director of Medical Services, spoke with great emotion on the impact of this program and thanked the Church for the donation.
Speaking next, Sister Yee, whose Church portfolio includes the worldwide Self-Reliance and Humanitarian Programs, disclosed that over US$1 billion was donated to various causes worldwide in 2022. She said, “We see God’s hand moving forward,” as she described the powerful positive impact of these actions.
Pres. Porter then spoke briefly on similar projects in Africa and the Philippines and explained that these funds were donated by Church members worldwide who wanted to bless others. Elder Gamiette followed with a powerful yet simple explanation of the importance of understanding the needs of people worldwide and finding suitable projects to help as many as possible. “We are here to help God’s children, regardless of race, color, or religion,” he said. “We want to emulate the Savior.” Elder Villanueva echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that we are all children of God and that the Church is happy to bless everyone.