The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados (ICAB) continues to exercise good corporate citizenry with the presentation of a cheque for $25 000 to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital recently.

The funds, which will go towards the purchase of vital signs monitors, cardiac monitors and ventilators, was presented to the Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Dexter James, during a brief presentation ceremony in the QEH’s Board Room.

“This is the first donation that the hospital would have received from a professional organisation. Donations have always been received from the NGO community or the diaspora. We the (QEH) see this as an indication of the understanding of the needs of the hospital as well as satisfying the corporate direction that the hospital is moving,” Dr. James added.

Giving an update of the NCD situation in Barbados, the hospital CEO disclosed that there were more than 40 strokes and close to 12 heart attacks per day. Given this scenario, there is a very high demand for critical care equipment.

To meet this demand, Dr. James disclosed that 20 nurses were currently being trained to expand its bedside nursing care management in keeping with the 25 per cent monitored beds allocation in the hospital.

The QEH’s CEO gave the assurance that the funds donated by ICAB will not be “commingled” with the hospital’s recurrent expenses and pointed out: “We have a separate account where these funds are placed. We have established a sinking fund where monies are transferred every month and used to meet urgent capital requirements at the hospital“.

In brief remarks, ICAB’s President Lisa Padmore, said the organisation was pleased to donate the funds to the QEH as part of its corporate social responsibility.

She added: “The QEH celebrated its 50th year of existence in 2014 and ICAB its 40th year. Therefore, as our two public institutions grow from strength to strength; we will continue to pledge our support in whatever way we can to assisting the QEH in meeting the healthcare needs of those Barbadians who need it most.”