MONTEGO BAY, St James — The American-based Grodzin Foundation through The American Friends of Jamaica along with the We Care for Cornwall Regional recently donated a much needed defibrillator valued at over US$7,200 to the Accident and Emergency Ward of the Cornwall Regional Hospital.

The donation was made in honour of the late Dr Barrington Dixon, a prominent obstetrician/gynaecologist and former senior medical officer at the hospital. Dixon, widely regarded as an affable humanitarian died on September 1, 2012 after being shot by gunmen at his home in Spring Gardens, St James. He was instrumental in reducing the infant mortality rate and training several medical students, nurses and young doctors.

We Care for Cornwall Regional Hospital is a group that was created by a cluster of concerned Montegonians who recognised the urgent need for improvement in the services and equipment at the Cornwall Regional Hospital.

Officially launched in May 2012, the group has been working assiduously since 2011 to draw awareness to the hospital’s plight, particularly that of its pediatric, and accident and emergency wards, and to actively raise funds to purchase of well-needed equipment.

The group is in the process of raising funds to refurbish and provide other vital equipment, such as wall mounted otoscope, ophthalmoscope, nebuliser and portable ultrasound.

The American Friends of Jamaica is a charity based in New York City and which works to support the efforts of local non-profit and non-government organisations that assist Jamaicans in need. The organisation relies on the generosity of those who love Jamaica and its people to raise much-needed funds and impact the islands’ development.