SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION ENHANCES MATERNITY WARD, ENSURING JNF GENERAL HOSPITAL MAINTAINS BABY-FRIENDLY STATUS

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, April 05, 2024 (SKNIS) – The Hunts, a family residing in Nottingham, United Kingdom and who frequently visits St. Kitts and Nevis, made a generous donation of medical supplies to the Joseph N. France General Hospital, earmarked for use in the maternity ward. The items, which range from pain relief machines to breast pumps, will help to ensure that the island’s main medical institution maintains its enviable status as a ‘baby-friendly hospital’.

The Baby-Friendly hospital initiative, launched by UNICEF and the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1991, is an accreditation process that requires a hospital to attain specific standards in relation to the ten steps of successful breastfeeding.

Andrew and Hannah Hunt, who were accompanied by their children, made the presentation during a brief handing-over ceremony at the hospital on Friday, April 5, 2024. There to accept on behalf of the medical institution was Dr. Jenson Morton, Director of Health Institutions, who highlighted that this is not the first time the hospital has benefitted from the philanthropic actions of the Hunts.

Hannah Hunt makes presentation to Dr. Jenson Morton, Director of Health Institutions

Dr. Morton indicated that Friday’s donation came after the Hunt’s most recent visit to the Federation in 2023, at which point they inquired about possible assistance they could provide, particularly regarding the maternity unit.

“Last year, the JNF General Hospital was re-certified as a baby-friendly hospital—one of only two in the entire region, and in keeping with us being a baby-friendly hospital and encouraging breastfeeding as much as possible, [the Hunts] decided to go full-blown with it and donate to us a myriad of items to assist us in the maternity unit and with regards to our baby-friendly initiatives, as well as with the promotion of breastfeeding,” Dr. Morton said, while recording profound gratitude to the Hunt family on behalf of the Government and people of St. Kitts and Nevis.

Benefactor Mr. Hunt, brought greetings on behalf of his family, and in his brief remarks pledged their continued support of the JNF Hospital and the health sector in St. Kitts and Nevis.

Friday’s donation of medical supplies included four (4) pain relief machines, four (4) pulse oximeters, four (4) pen lights, four (4) fetal dopplers, two (2) head measurers, two (2) baby length measurers, two (2) electric breast pumps, four (4) manual breast pumps, thirty (30) milk storage bottles, seven hundred and fifty (750) milk storage bags, two (2) infant scales, twenty (20) baby blankets and more.

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