Eight children recently had highly specialised scoliosis surgeries performed on them at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, the Ministry of Health said on Friday, adding that scoliosis surgeries are delicate procedures geared at correcting curvature of the spine.
World Pediatric Project surgeons, in conjunction with local health experts, conducted the procedures, which were “all successful and completed without incident,” the ministry said in a press statement.
Three of the children were from St. Vincent and the Grenadines and five children from other countries in the eastern Caribbean.
“The beneficiary children and their families expressed a heartfelt thank you to everyone involved in their care and treatment, and gave a vote of confidence to the hospital and its facilities,” the ministry said.
Minister of Health Sen. Luke Browne, said:
“Healthcare is moving in the right direction and the ministry is working to ensure we continue to make progress every day. These children have been given a new lease on life and could stand up straight, walk upright and take their rightful place in society.”
The ministry said that MCMH has emerged as a centre of excellence for paediatric care in the OECS.
“This justifies the government’s recent investments in upgrading the operating theatre (OT) at the MCMH and its ancillary facilities. The operating theatre was outfitted with specialised and cutting-edge equipment valued at EC$2.7 million that made the surgeries possible,” the ministry said.
It added that the cost of upgrading the physical infrastructure of the operating theatre, recovery room and intensive care unit amounted to approximately EC$4 million.
“Therefore, the total investment in these facilities in recent times (physical upgrades and equipment) is EC$6.7 million.”
Positive, continue to upgrade and enhance existing facilities for the benefit of all Vincentians.
This is great news for these children and their families but highlights the fact we would never be “a centre of excellence for paediatric care in the OECS” if we will always have to beg overseas surgeons to do what are considered to be complex procedures here but are routine operations in their home countries.
The MCMH will impress me when Vincentians stop dying from a simple blood clot. Impress me with stronger oversight and accountability of the MCMH.
I agree with you sir.
Congratulations to the Surgeons on performing successful surgeries of such delicate nature on the children. Good that SVG is rated so highly where child healthcare is concerned. It will be good if improvement in other areas take place, such as not causing patients to die needlessly of blood clot due to weakened substance being injected, thus proving ineffective in preventing blood clotting of immobile patients. Further, improvement in the attitude of most nurses primarily and some doctors will go a long way in uplifting the status of the hospital.
Ariston, the equipment, upgrade and surgeons were all supplied by a US charity but cannot be mentioned to save embarrassing the ALBA group who do just about nothing for us.
As for the SVG medical ministry under Luke Browne who would like to take the credit, they had nothing whatsoever to do with it.
Further more Ariston, SVG is not rated highly or even mediocrely regarding treatment for any type whatsoever of medical procedure on children, adults or even old folk. In fact the reverse, SVG is the last place any procedure should be taken if you can afford to go somewhere else. That is why the ULP politicians go to Cuba.
Interesting. Didn’t realise all that hidden info.