Giving back . . . Polyclinic gets donations

Patients and staff at the Maurice Byer Polyclinic in St Peter now have the benefit of a public address (PA) system and outdoor benches.

Member of Parliament for the constituency, Colin Jordan officially handed over the benches to the polyclinic’s management. The funds to purchase them came from donations collected at the St Peter Gives Thanks Gospel Concert held on February 1 as part of the parish’s We Gatherin’ celebrations.

The PA system was a donation from Port St Charles.

Jordan told those gathered that while the focus was currently on We Gatherin’ 2020, the St Peter Parish Organizing Committee’s commitment to improving the polyclinic would go beyond this year.

“Thank you for working with us, sharing with us your needs and agreeing to accept this donation,” he said.

“I encourage you to continue throughout this year, but beyond this year, to the idea of being committed to your country. If the residents of every parish recommit to their parish then, as a country, we all recommit to the country and to that project of nation-building.”

Manager of Port St Charles Stephen Austin, who goes to the polyclinic to collect medication for his father at times, said he often observed workers in the pharmacy struggling without a PA system.

“They call a name and it’s repeated by everyone in there. You hear Johnson and everybody repeats Johnson. So I think this PA system will come in handy where they will not have to repeat, they can relax, and I am looking at other things that we can help in any way. Maybe a water cooler, something that would help people to have a good experience here,” he said.

Medical Officer of Health Dr Cheryl McCollin thanked those who donated to the polyclinic.

She said that the PA system would improve the service offered at the pharmacy, and patients would be grateful to have the benches, located in a cool area on the outside, where they could wait before their appointments.

anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb