July, 2004

CHA presents wish list:
Health care foundation looking to buy $200,000 in new equipment
by Darrell Cole, Amherst Daily News

UPPER NAPPAN - The Cumberland Health Care Foundation now has a destination for money earned through the Annual Fund.

The foundation was presented with an extensive equipment list by the Cumberland Health Authority and has decided to focus its efforts on purchasing more than $200,000 worth of equipment for the obstetrics/gynecology department at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre.

"It's a fairly extensive equipment list, and with the obstetrician/gynecologist coming in, we figured it would be best to provide equipment for that department," foundation managing director Jodi Swan said Wednesday.

The Annual Fund, which was kicked off a couple of months ago, has already raised $9,500 towards its initial goal of $20,000 and Swan is optimistic the community will rally behind the fundraising effort now that equipment has been identified.

"This is a service we have not had in Cumberland County in about eight years," Swan said. "By providing this equipment we'll be helping enhance obstetrics and gynecology and make it easier for mothers to give birth at home instead of having to go to Moncton. Even if we get one piece of equipment knocked off the list we'll be excited."

Among the items identified for purchase by the foundation are several C-section trays, D&C sets, a vacuum extraction system as well as various other scopes.

The timing for the initiative couldn't be better after the health authority announced the recruitment of Dr. Marquis Okon to fill a vacancy in the obstetrics department at the hospital. He's expected to arrive in mid-July.

Dr. Okon is a Fellow of the Royal Collage of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and currently practices at the Dr. G. B. Cross Memorial Hospital in Clarenville, Nfld. He also holds a United Kingdom Fellowship in Obstetrics from the University of Sheffield.

"Now that we have the equipment list and the professional to back it up, we'll have all these services here in Cumberland County," Swan said.

"This is going to benefit families throughout the area and allow mothers to give birth here."

Once it completes its purchases for obstetrics/gynecology, Swan said the foundation will move on to the remainder of the list that includes equipment needs in the lab, ambulatory care, emergency, ICU, surgery, anesthetics, diagnostic imaging and ECG.

Several weeks ago, the foundation sent out its Annual Fund Mailer which sets out its fundraising objectives. Besides enhancing the Endowment Fund, the mail out also stressed the need to fund equipment purchases that helps it fulfill its mission to enhance the ability to provide a high standard of health care to all residents of Cumberland County.

Other foundation fundraiser's including the annual Foundation Dinner in April, the Highland Classic Charity Golf Tournament in August and the Light the Way Campaign in December.