New York, NY March 27, 2020 – AFJ announced it has donated N95 Masks, Surgical Gowns, Sterile Gloves and Nebulizers to the Ministry of Health Jamaica for distribution to University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) hospital and other first responders facing a critical shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This inkind donation is valued in excess of U$100,000 (J$13.5M) and includes over 18,000 N95 Masks, nearly 40,000 Sterile Gloves, 1,140 Surgical Gowns and Nebulizers. UHWI has an immediate and critical need for its dedicated medical professionals. The donated PPE supplies are scheduled to arrive in Kingston, Jamaica during the week of April 1st.
“We recognize the need to support healthcare resilience in Jamaica and also vulnerable and underserved communities experiencing hardship due to quarantine or school and business closures. We know that our path forward requires working together to help healthcare workers on the frontlines of the pandemic,” states Caron Chung, Executive Director. “AFJ will continue to evaluate the needs and opportunities in order to fill the gaps for PPE and other supplies.”
Coincidentally, planning for this substantial donation was in progress since last year. The items were received months before the COVID-19 outbreak. It is unfortunate that supplies are limited here in the USA at this time. The AFJ decided to deliver on its reputation to follow through on the commitment to present these donated items to Jamaica.
Wendy Hart, AFJ President said “COVID-19 is one of the greatest challenges of our time. The AFJ joins in committing its efforts to helping address the highest priority needs of the nation and the people of Jamaica”.
AFJ’s COVID-19 Relief Fund has generated pledged donations which will be used to purchase equipment for public hospitals, support individuals and families facing economic insecurity and uncertainty. These donations are courtesy of the AFJ Board of Directors and supportive AFJ Donors.
AFJ is grateful to donors and partners Dr. Kenneth Alleyne, MD, Rhoan Stewart, Keisha Lawrence and our hardworking volunteer team who organized and coordinated the delivery of this inkind donation.
For additional ways AFJ is supporting during the COVID-19 public health crisis, go to www.theafj.org.
The AFJ has an over 37-year history of funding charitable organizations in Jamaica in the fields of education, healthcare and economic development. As a registered 501 c 3 nonprofit, AFJ relies on individual and corporate contributions made by donors who believe in our work and will advocate on our behalf. Part of the AFJ’s mission is to facilitate donor directed contributions which enables donors to support registered charitable organizations in Jamaica.
