QEH gets $270 000 in equipment, supplies from China

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) on Friday received a donation of medical equipment and supplies valued over US$135 000 (BDS$270 000) from the Chinese government.

The donation includes hip prostheses, infant incubators, surgical supplies such as syringe pumps and IV solutions, as well as protective gears inclusive of masks and gloves.

“Newborns through to adults here at the QEH will benefit from these supplies and equipment and we can assure you that every item will be put to great use in terms of clinical services that we render to our patients,” the QEH’s Chief Operations Officer Dr Christine Greenidge said at the official handing over ceremony.

The donation was made as part of agreements to enhance clinical and technical skills and explore best practices in healthcare delivery through collaboration between the two countries.

According to the agreement which was first signed in 2016, a maximum of eight healthcare professionals are to be assigned to the QEH on a rotation basis for six months over an agreed period. It was later agreed that the Chinese government would also make donations to support the mission of each medical team.

So far, some six batches totaling 48 doctors and nurses have been sent to work in Barbados.

“Besides giving us donations that have enhanced and increased the clinical outcomes of our patients, and assisted our medical staff to be able to perform procedures, our partnership also is one in which we have benefitted from the clinical expertise of the Chinese Medical team,” Dr Greenridge said.

Commenting on the performance of the current set of doctors and nurses, she added: “We are so proud of the sixth Chinese medical team who have been sharing their clinical expertise and helping us to enhance our clinical outcomes; and, most importantly, the interchange of relationships, knowledge and research that we are now applying to the bedside.”

Chinese Ambassador to Barbados Yan Xiusheng shared his belief that the supplies will further improve the bilateral cooperation in healthcare and promote the building of the China-Barbados community of health. He said: “We believe that guided by the important consensus reached by President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, our two countries will firmly grasp the correct direction of the development of our bilateral relations, continue to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges… and work together to implement the Global Development Initiative (GDI), Global Security Initiative (GSI) and Global Civilisation Initiative. This collaborative effort will consistently yield new achievements in China-Barbados cooperation, contributing to the creation of a new and magnificent chapter in the shared endeavour to build a community with a shared future for mankind.”

(SM)