The Maria Holder Memorial Trust – Handover of CT Scanner and Accessible Buses to Government of Grenada
At an official ceremony held on 26 September 2023, Donna Clarke, Project Manager, The Maria Holder Memorial Trust handed over a Revolution Evo 128 Slice CT Scanner to the General Hospital of Grenada. The scanner, a vital and essential piece of equipment, would not only benefit the 100,000+ population of which approximately 40% are under the age of 25 years but also the 160,000+ tourists who visit Grenada annually. The CT Scanner will open accessibility to those with limited or no resources; provide immediate diagnoses of emergency cases that present to the General Hospital, including patients with trauma, stroke, deep vein thrombosis, acute coronary syndrome, neonates and Paediatric emergencies; allow for the advancement in managing oncology cases and the development of the Stroke Unit and Interventional Cardiology Services. It will allow the General Hospital to support a wide range of medical specialties including paediatrics, internal medicine, general surgery, oncology, obstetrics and gynaecology, and neurosurgery.
Additionally, the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture received from The Maria Holder Memorial Trust, two (2) wheelchair adaptable buses comprising of one (1) Toyota Hiace with capacity for three (3) wheelchairs and three (3) seat reclining and one Toyota Coaster Mobility Bus with capacity for ten (10) passengers and four (4) wheelchairs. the Ministry was also gifted with twelve (12) wheelchairs (six (6) motorized and six (6) manual) which will aid in easy access on and off the buses without needing much support.
The gifting of the buses and wheelchairs to the Ministry of Education will immensely assist and improve the attendance of nine (9) physically challenged students presently enrolled at the Victoria School for Special Education; Grenada School for Special Education and the St. Andrew School for Special Education. Additionally, one hundred and forty-nine (149) other special needs students can be transported to school safely with the necessary care and attention needed. The access to adaptable buses will allow for better time management for students, parents, caregivers and drivers; regular school attendance of students; allow students a level of independence to have access to and from school like any other able-bodied child and also allow them to take part in non-academic and extracurricular activities in the manner necessary to afford them an equal opportunity for participation.