Sagicor donates mobile medical unit to Government of Dominica
February 18, 2018
Roseau, Dominica, February 19, 2018—On Friday, February 16, Sagicor Life Inc, the leading insurance company in the Caribbean donated a fully customised, mobile medical unit to the Government of Dominica.
The unit, purchased by Sagicor, in collaboration with Doctors In Our Circle, Ray Asta, Ministry of Health and Friends of Sagicor, will support and respond to the immediate needs of the people of Dominica post Hurricane Maria. Dr. Laura Espirit, Director of Medical Services at the Ministry of Health spoke at the small handover ceremony. She said,
“Services that will be provided at the mobile medical clinic include comprehensive medical screening, cancer screening, specialist clinics, HIV and immunisation testing as well as general response to medical crises during disasters, disease outbreaks and other activities of national importance.”
Chairman for Sagicor Financial Corporation Mr. Stephen McNamara was present in Dominica to handover the mobile clinic to the Minister of Health from the Government of Dominica. He said, “This Mobile Medical Unit was outfitted and branded in Ohio, driven down to the Miami port, moved onto a barge which first went to Jamaica, and, a few stops later, drove off the port of Roseau.
“The extensive outfitting of the Mobile Medical Unit ensured that it contained a wide range of facilities including, but not limited to:
- Two examination rooms with beds
- Fuel and Water Tanks
- A Generator
- Refrigeration Unit and Medicine Storage
- A Wheel Chair Lift
- Fuel and Water Tanks
- A Generator
- Refrigeration Unit and Medicine Storage
- A Wheel Chair Lift
Sagicor supported the acquisition of the bus from a financial perspective donating US$100,000 to purchase. Mr. McNamara also revealed that Sagicor Life and Sagicor General, both regional companies present in Dominica since 1968, immediately mobilised their entire network of 4,172 Sagicorians across the various territories following the passage of Hurricane Maria.
He said, “The Sagicor Group also established a hurricane relief fund of over EC$500,000, from which support was provided with the regional airline LIAT to airlift persons to other Caribbean islands. Additionally, across the Sagicor network, we collected and shipped necessities ranging from food and water supplies to generators and made cash donations. The same was done by providing assistance through Antigua and St. Kitts & Nevis to our other Caribbean brothers and sisters in Barbuda, Anguilla and St. Martin where we operate as well.”
Minister of Health Kenneth Darroux expressed gratitude to Sagicor, Doctors in Our Circle and the other donors for their generous assistance. He said that the Medical Clinic will support the medical needs of the island, particularly as the country is currently conducting a review of the Scope of Works of the National Hospital prior to beginning construction later this year.