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Your support saves lives! The story of little Grace sums up the sustainable programs created by the foundation. If it had not been for the training, the donations we provided to St. Ann’s Bay Hospital and the dedication of Dr. Woodham-Auden, her outstanding team of doctors and nurses along Fabia Lamm, Regional Director, the outcome would not have been so joyous. Taken from the Jamaica Gleaner: https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20170106/gods-blesses-couple-miracle-baby
Mandeville, Manchester: There is no pain greater than that of a mother who thinks she may lose the precious life she was entrusted to bring into this world. Shelly-Gaye Cuff endured much: having to fight for her own life and reserve strength enough to pray and fight for her baby’s survival. But God showed up and granted the Cuffs a blessing in the form of doctors and nurses at the St Ann’s Bay Hospital. “I was 26 weeks pregnant on Friday August 26 of this year (2016). I had just run a few errands and came home to prepare some light dinner. While there I felt a gush – I thought it was urine at first,” she explained. She ‘Googled’ the normality or abnormality of what had just taken place and even sought the help of a friend who was a medical practitioner. Soon after, Cuff went to her doctor’s office and yet again experienced another gush of fluid down her thighs. After an examination it was confirmed that she needed to go to the hospital because she was about to have the baby. With shock and fear of the unknown in less than unfavourable conditions, the soon-to-be mom, with a ruptured membrane and a vulnerable baby, sought to push pass the worst. “In the early morning of Wednesday, August 31, I started feeling contractions: I wasn’t dilating. I then developed a fever; I was hot then cold, shaking uncontrollably and I couldn’t breathe, my complexion had changed and at that point my body was becoming septic – my body was literally shutting down and I thought I was going to die – my family thought I was going to die.” By then a doctor advised Cuff that an emergency C-section had to be done, but priority would be given to saving her life, as her baby could very well be dead as a result of an infection. “When the baby came out she wasn’t breathing, they kept resuscitating her but it wasn’t until after 20 minutes that she gasped. A doctor told my husband that the baby was slowly deteriorating and it was highly unlikely that she would make it to morning.” She continued, “My baby was there – just panting and the hospital had no ventilator to help her breathe. On September 2, she flat lined three times.” When it felt it as though hope was diminishing, God reminded the Cuffs who He was and what He can do. A call came in from the St Ann’s Bay Hospital enquiring if the baby they were told about in Mandeville still needed the ventilator, as a baby had just been discharged. “JDF (Jamaica Defense Force) came and took the baby to St Ann’s Bay Hospital and the baby not only received the ventilator, but top-class care, I felt as though my baby was the only patient there.” She continued, “Initially the doctors and nurses said the baby didn’t look promising: they said they were only instruments, it was all God’s doing. Every doctor on call came to the assistance of my baby; it was just a different experience, state-of-the-art care… I want to say thanks to St Ann’s Bay because they didn’t have to take her and to have spent such a great deal of time on her – 59 days – was awesome. I must thank Elaine Johnson-Kelly from NERHA (North Eastern Regional Health Authority) who pretty much opened her home to accommodate me for the period.” Cuff said upon leaving the hospital, after being granted the go-ahead to take her baby home, she watched all the members of the medical team who knew and worked with her baby, cry. “They called my baby ‘Miracle’ and ‘Grace’. I’m happy to know that in Jamaica there are still health practitioners who don’t deal with humans as statistics but as persons, amid the negativity around there is a beacon up there in St Ann.s Bay. I’m forever indebted to them for the care they gave to me and my baby.” With a new found joy; 17-week-old Aaryn-Grace, the Cuffs have, for now, completed their happy home.
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Ernie Sandona (left), biomedical engineer and Issa Trust Foundation volunteer, demonstrates some of the modern features of the state-of-the art ECG machine to Dr Vincent Riley, cardiologist.

Ernie Sandona (left), biomedical engineer and Issa Trust Foundation volunteer, demonstrates some of the modern features of the state-of-the art ECG machine to Dr Vincent Riley, cardiologist.

Reported by the Jamaica Gleaner Friday | November 25, 2016 | 12:00 AM
Over the past two weeks, the Issa Trust Foundation – founded as the non-profit arm of Couples Resorts in 2005 – has donated a total of $10.3 million in equipment and supplies to hospitals in St Mary, St Ann and Portland as well as the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital. Twenty autoclaves (valued at $3.4 million), which are medical electronic equipment that sterilise surgical instruments under high temperature and high pressure, were part of the donation, as well as a new Welch Allyn ECG machine valued at $580,000. A crucial element of donations made by the Issa Trust Foundation is the provision of training and maintenance. Ernie Sandona, a biomedical engineer from Michigan, United States, was on hand to conduct a training session to approximately 30 attendees at the Annotto Bay Conference Centre. His training focused on the proper use and maintenance of the equipment to ensure longevity.   A shipment of new cribs, mattresses, IV poles and baby scales, all donated by Direct Relief, a valued partner of the Issa Trust Foundation, was made to the St Ann’s Bay Hospital with a value of $1.9 million.
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Sav La Mar Hospital received a donation 13 Stretcher beds, new mattresses and equipment donated in September 2016. The Accident and Emergency Department gave thanks for the donation. ae-test
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Unlocking doors by opening eyes

An amazing team of volunteers embarked on the Vision Mission to impact the lives of the children in health and education. This has been one of the most fulfilling experiences to watch the incredible gift of the volunteers, and teachers showing genuine sense of compassion and love. The team spent two days at the Ocho Rios Primary School, one day at the Oracabessa High School and Free Hill Primary School. In 4 days, the team provided 1, 505 eye exams, 293 glasses were dispensed in addition to 17 referrals at no cost.

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Celebrating our 10th Year Anniversary! Thank you to all of our partners, volunteers and friends for your support!

View “Celebrating 10 Years of Giving Back” commemorative online brochure on the Jamaica Gleaner Website

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itf-sav-neonatal

Reported by the Jamaica Gleaner Friday | April 22, 2016 | by Christopher Thomas

Director of the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA) Dr Ken Garfield Douglas (left) exchanges a warm handshake with Chairman of the Issa Trust Foundation Paul Issa, while President and Chief Executive Officer of the foundation Diane Pollard shares the moment. Occasion was handover of neonatal equipment to the hospital’s special-care unit.

WESTERN BUREAU:

The Issa Trust Foundation has given a commitment to the Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital in Westmoreland to fully outfit the facility’s neonatal unit as well as finance the training of staff to care for premature babies.

The commitment was given on Tuesday by Paul Issa, the chairman of the Issa Trust Foundation, during a brief launch ceremony on the grounds of the hospital. He also used the opportunity to outline additional plans by the organisation to improve health care at the hospital as well as at other facilities islandwide.

“I think we know that this hospital, along with every other hospital in Jamaica, has had some severe challenges, but we hope to be able to help you bridge the gap and address these issues,” Issa told stakeholders in his brief address. “We want to help you to improve the service that you offer to the community of western Jamaica.”

The neonatal unit has been equipped at a cost of J$24 million. Additional funds will be provided for the training of the staff to operate and maintain the facility. The foundation has also donated US$2,000 (J$244,460.50) worth of disposable equipment, which includes tubing and hypodermic needles, to the unit.

“The unit is based on the model of the special-care nursery we did at the St Ann’s Bay Hospital a few years ago, which has reduced infant mortality rates by 30 per cent,” said Issa. “We have replicated that here, and I think it is really going to change the quality of the neonatal health care at this hospital. We are going to be in an ongoing relationship, and we are very excited about it.”

SIGNIFICANT BOOST

Dr Alfred Dawes, the hospital’s senior medical officer, said the gift of the neonatal unit is a significant boost to the hospital’s capacity to provide high-quality services.

“This unit has really boosted the hospital’s efforts at providing care. Before that, we were not equipped to deal with premature babies, and so they had to be transferred,” said Dawes. “If they were unfortunate enough to be the ones who were not accepted by Cornwall Regional Hospital, then we would not be able to care for them and they would die.”

“With the commitment of the Issa Foundation, and the training programme and the increased staffing that we expect to get, once the nursery is up and running fully, then we should be able to provide top-class care for these premature babies,” added Dawes.

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Green Island Primary School

School Motto: Strive for Excellence
Green Island Primary School was built in 1920. The school is located in Hanover Jamaica. Present enrollment: 283 girls and 301 boys ages 6 to 12 years old.

The staff consists of the Principal, (Mr. Vaccianna Moseley) the Vice Principal, Guidance Counselor, Spanish Teacher, 16 classroom teachers, and a part time Physical Education teacher.

Extra Curricular Activities:
Clubs: 4H, Brownies, Sports, Math, Spanish, Speech, Empowerment, Scouts Club, Performing Arts, Reading and Spelling

Vision:
To create meaningful and unified learning experiences in an environment which is conducive to academic and personal growth and development of staff, pupils, parents and all other stake holders.

Mission Statement
The mission of the Green island Primary School is to establish and maintain an effective Educational Program that will ensure the HOLISTIC development of each individual.
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November 18, 2015

Dear Board,

This has been a very busy year! Please see the latest press releases for your review.

November 13, 2015 – Issa Trust Foundation Gives Life-Saving Equipment To Hospitals

November 11, 2015 – Support The Health Care System! Lady Hall Urges Corporate Jamaica To Hop On Board

November 10, 2015 – Sav Hospital Gets Paediatric Gifts

October 13, 2015 – IssaTrust Foundation On A Mission

August 31, 2015 – Issa Trust Foundation Hosts Medical Clinics

Diane Pollard, President & CEO
Issa Trust Foundation
cell: 515-480-1683
Jamaica cell (when in country) 876-503-5903

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Jamaica Gleaner
October 13, 2015

More than 1000 children received free medical and eye care during The Issa Trust Foundation Pediatric Medical Mission held over five days in the parishes of Hanover and Westmoreland from September 24 – 29.

The Paul Issa chaired foundation, has been supporting Jamaica’s children over the past 11 years through various support programmes. Issa is also deputy chairman of Couples Resorts.

“We ensure that the mediation prescribed is available in Jamaica and if a patient requires follow up this is also facilitated,” Diane Pollard, president and CEO of the non- profit group said, “We are proud of our medical mission because we ensure continuity.”

“We have developed a highly efficient process to provide pediatric medical care to as many children at the highest standard of care we can deliver,” Pollard added, noting that they offer everything except for operations; all of which would normally cost a child in the region of US$400, which can making a big difference in a child’s life.

The outreach team led by registered nurse Kerri Cooke and Dr Pat Brophy comprises of medical professionals, such as pediatric pharmacists, intensive care physicians, hematology-oncology consultants, general pediatricians, nephrologists, nurse midwife, pulmonologists, neonatologist, pediatric nurse practitioner, a pediatric nurse and respiratory therapist.

The procedure takes each child through registration, blood pressure check along with other preliminary examinations, doctors’ visit and then to the pharmacy if medication is prescribed. Each child is then examined by a dental hygienist, followed by eye examination and the provision of prescribed eye wear to one in every four children seen, through the support of the Lions Club of Michigan’s donation of over 2000 eyeglasses.

“It’s just an awesome feeling to be giving back, “said pharmacist Art Abrahams, who hails from Ohio City in the US and who is making his second trip to Jamaica with the mission, “From a health care professional’s perspective this sort of support is very important, because such things can easily be taken for granted, but to see firsthand, the need of others, many who cannot afford it and then contribute to make a difference is very rewarding.

According to the foundation, its mission is to provide a system of prevention, health promotion and education, community health improvement and other services to promote well-being and development for the people of Jamaica.

mark.titus[at]gleanerjm.com

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Direct Relief’s collaboration with the Issa Trust Foundation began in 2015 with the delivery of essential respiratory medications, including 792 inhalers, oral corticosteroids, and sodium chloride for use with nebulizers. Diagnostic and respiratory supplies and equipment, such as infant and neonate blood pressure cuffs, a pulse oximeter, and a nebulizer compressor, were also included.

Read more on Direct Relief’s website »
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