March 10, 2008 - Media Release

County staff helping to bring new ultrasound to regional

Shown is Emily Frenette of the Municipality’ office presenting a cheque of $1,000 towards the Growing Care campaign to Joe Gauthier, Foundation Managing Director

AMHERST, NS (March 10, 2008) – The Growing Care campaign of the Cumberland Health Care Foundation received a boost recently with a $1,000 donation from the staff of the Municipality of the County of Cumberland. Emily Frenette, who was representing the staff donation commented “when it came time to decide on where to donate our casual day monies - it was unanimous. Everyone wanted to help bring the new equipment and operating room to the regional hospital”.

The campaign to raise $2.49 million for a third operating room and updated diagnostic equipment current sits at 93% with a remaining $180,000 to be raised which will support a new Ultrasound machine for the regional acute care centre. “It was an unexpected donation,” said Joe Gauthier, Managing Director of the Foundation, “we’re quite pleased that they wanted to pitch in and help again. We’re into that last stretch of fundraising which is the most difficult part for most big capital campaigns”.

Widely used to visualize an unborn baby as part of prenatal care, an ultrasound is used to identify many conditions that would be harmful to the mother and the baby. In 2006-07, there were 247 babies delivered at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre.

For other hospital patients, it is used to visualize internal organs, their size, structure, and any pathological lesions with real time tomographic images. The newer machine will have improved technology & imaging which will assist patients undergoing investigation for abdominal and breast cancer, blood clots and thyroid conditions.

Donations to the “Growing Care” campaign can be made at the Cumberland Health Care Foundation office located at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre, by calling 902 667-5400 ext. 6210 or by visiting the website www.chcfoundation.com.