The Rotary family in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) conducted its Rotary Village Doctor initiative in Union Island on Sunday as a part of its relief efforts to assist people affected by Hurricane Beryl.
The Rotary family in SVG comprises the Rotary Club of St. Vincent, Rotary Club of St. Vincent South, Rotaract Club of Kingstown and the Interact Club of St. Vincent Girls’ High School.
The Rotary clubs, with the help of the Trinity Medical Sciences University, housed the floating clinic to attend to patients on board a ferry docked in the southern Grenadine island.
Eleven medical students from Trinity Medical Sciences University and three faculty members along with 12 doctors of varying specialisations, including ear, nose, and throat, odontology, ophthalmology, psychology, paediatrics and surgeons, attended to 157 patients.
The team provided psychological first aid and counselling services.
To further extend the reach to the people on Union Island, Rotarians and doctors visited shelters and homes to offer medical attention.
Residents who needed urgent care were transported to the ferry to be attended to by the varying specialists.
One patient who was in critical condition was transported to Milton Cato Memorial Hospital in St. Vincent via helicopter, accompanied by a physician.
With the collaboration of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Pharmaceutical Association, a mini pharmacy was set up aboard the ferry and people received the available medication free of cost.
In addition to medical attention, Rotary, with the support of varying donors, provided donations of cases of water and other beverages, brooms, mops, towels, nails and screws.
Recently-installed Rotary District 7030 Governor, Debbie Roopchand, travelled from Trinidad to accompany the team to Union Island.
She assessed the damage to help with the mobilisation efforts of the Rotary clubs within the district.
Roopchand and Immediate Past District 7030 Governor, Brian Glasgow also visited Mayreau.
KGroup and its subsidiaries, with a team of 30 persons, collaborated with the Rotary Family.
The company provided two 20-tonne dump trucks, a backhoe, a large loader and an excavator and the requisite staff.
The team spent the day cleaning up the area near Hugh Mulzac Square.
CCC Ltd. provided cleaning supplies to the people of Union Island, including shovels, brooms and rakes. Plantation Hotel provided sheets, towels, blankets and curtains.
“The highlight of the day for some, in addition to the aforementioned was the distribution of 400 two-piece meals from KFC,” a press release said, adding that KOSCAB donated beverages.
Representatives from the World Food Programme also made the journey to Union Island on Sunday, distributing over 300 kits including food kits, hygiene kits and shelter kits to the residents of Clifton and Ashton.
The Rotary Family said it will conduct another Rotary Village Doctor within six to eight weeks along with other environmental projects that will assist in the cleaning up of centralised areas.
This edition of Rotary Village Doctor is the second one for the calendar year, following another in Sandy Bay in June, that attended to 170 people.
People who are interested in contributing to the Rotary Clubs efforts can contact the club at [email protected]
Financial contributions can be made to:
Bank: Republic Bank Ltd.
Account Name: Hurricane Beryl Relief Fund
Account Number: 200000169348
Thank you for this update. It is very encouraging for doners to hear about how their donations are used.