Sagicor donates mobile medical clinic to Government of Dominica

PHOTO 1: MOBILE MEDICAL CLINIC READY TO ROLL: Dr. Laura Espirit, Director of Medical Services for the Ministry of Health in Dominica, speaks about the services that will be offered at the new Mobile Medical Clinic that was donated to the people of Dominica by Sagicor in February. Also at the head table from left; Rev Fr. Nigel Karam, Dean of the Roseau Cathedral; Ms. Cecilia St Hilaire, Doctors In Our Circle; Mr. Brenton Hilaire, Agency Manager, Sagicor Life Inc; Dr. Laura Espirit; Mr. Stephen McNamara, Chairman, Sagicor Financial Corporation; Honourable Dr Kenneth Darroux, Minister of Health and Mrs. Cheryl Rolle, Principal Representative, Sagicor Life Inc, Dominica.

PRESS RELEASE

Roseau, Dominica, February 19, 2018— On Friday 16th February, Sagicor Life, the leading insurance company in the Caribbean donated a fully customized, 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 immunization testing as well as general response to medical crises during disasters, disease outbreaks and other activities of national importance.

PHOTO 2: INSIDE THE SAGICOR MOBILE MEDICAL CLINIC: One of the examination rooms inside the Mobile Medical Clinic donated to the Government of Dominica from the Sagicor Group. This Clinic will assist in alleviating the health sector as it continues to provide service to the people of the island which was affected by Hurricane Maria in 2017.

Chairman for Sagicor Financial Corporation, Mr. Stephen McNamara was present in Dominica to handover the 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.

PHOTO 3: MOBILE MEDICAL UNIT TOUR: Members of the Government of Dominica and the media and other guests are taken through the Sagicor Mobile Medical Unit following its handover to the Government of Dominica on February 16.

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, and
• A Wheel Chair Lift
Sagicor supported the acquisition of the bus from a financial perspective donating US$100,000.00 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.”

PHOTO 4: PROUD SAGICOR STAFF: The team members of Sagicor in Dominica stand proudly with the Mobile Medical Clinic which was donated by the Company to the Government and People of Dominica to assist with health care issues following the passage of Hurricane Maria. Standing at centre is Stephen McNamara, Chairman of Sagicor Financial Corporation which donated US$100,000 for the purchase of the clinic.

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.

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