The Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados (HSFB) Inc. has received a much-needed injection of just over $44,000 to support the enhancement of its public education and awareness programme, as well as to enhance its overall constituent experience, thanks to the Massy Foundation (Barbados) Inc. and the Massy Companies in Barbados.
The timing of this donation is critical, as the Heart & Stroke Foundation is poised to embark on the challenge of increasing public awareness and introducing educational interventions around various elements of cardiac and stroke rehabilitation, but more importantly around overall wellness.
Eight out of 10 deaths in Barbados are caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and it has been forecast that heart disease will cause three times more death and disability than all infectious diseases, including HIV, over the next 20 years.
There is a proven link between deaths from COVID-19 and those persons living with NCDs. HSFB is therefore seeking, with the assistance of partners, to ramp up its capacity and infrastructure to deliver enhanced service and education in its role as a health-services provider and a recognized essential service. As a supporter of HSFB’s Yute Gym Programme, the Massy Foundation is one partner which has responded to this call.
The HSFB team was therefore very pleased to receive a visit from Massy Foundation Director, Frere Delmas, Vice President of Massy (Barbados) Ltd., Jeremy Nurse, and other Massy Foundation representatives for the official handover last Friday.
President of the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados, Kevin Farmer expressed his pleasure at the donation.
“We are quite pleased to be receiving funding from the Massy Foundation and Massy companies, allowing us to educate Barbadians on the benefits of being heart-healthy. At the same time, such funding allows us to service our community through our rehabilitation and preventative programmes. Thank you again for your continued support of the HSFB.”
At the presentation, Delmas remarked that the Massy Foundation has enjoyed a previous partnership with the HSFB, most recently with the “Teenage Kicks Yute Gym”. He added: “With the proven link between COVID-19 deaths and NCDs, we note the critical need for added support to better equip Barbadians with the information, tools, and enhance services that will help to prevent or manage their cardiovascular health and wellness.”
As the HSFB endeavours to expand its reach and broaden awareness in terms of advocacy, rehabilitation, prevention and wellness, among other things, some of the proceeds will be put towards the development of a public education campaign. Chief Executive Officer Michelle Daniel emphasized that it was partnerships such as the one with the Massy Foundation that affords non-profits like The Heart & Stroke Foundation, the opportunity to intentionally reach their valued stakeholders as well as their goals. (PR)
