Thank you Bounty - Deejay delivers beds as promised

May 16, 2006 will forever remain fresh in the mind of 63-year-old Evelyn Wallen. On that day, her son succumbed to injuries from a gunshot wound he received to his chest, hours after he was rushed to the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH).

According to Wallen, the doctors worked tirelessly to save her third child as he laid on a stretcher in the emergency room.

"Dem never get to transfer him to a bed because it was a bloody Tuesday night at di hospital, but di docta and nurse dem really try wid him right deh so pon di stretcha," she said.

Yesterday, almost 12 years after the incident, Wallen is back at the medical facility, this time to receive treatment for diabetes and hypertension.

JOYOUS OCCASION

Although she will not be needing the services of a bed, she was quite welcoming to the news that dancehall artiste Bounty Killer was handing over 63 beds to the KPH and the Victoria Jubilee Hospital (VJH).

"Me no really know much bout him, enuh, cuz me can't really understand when him a sing cuz him sing fast. Me happy fi whe him a do still, cuz dem have bed problem more time. Nuff time me know di nurse dem get frustrated cuz people a cuss dem, but a nuh really dem a di problem. Dem just no have enough a di tings dem to take care a di patient dem," she said.

There was a similar atmosphere of gratitude at the handover ceremony.

Describing it as a joyous occasion, Health Minster Dr Christopher Tufton said Bounty's donation was a worthwhile and much- needed contribution to the health sector.

"Bounty is not only bringing joy and pleasure to his many fans but also adding value to public health. These two hospitals are extremely significant to Jamaicans ... ," he said.

KPH's CEO, Dr Errol Greene, said the gesture was fitting as it was on the birthday of late reggae icon Bob Marley.

"Bounty, if only you know how much of a great thing you have done for us. Twenty-five of the beds were given to the VJH and the rest to the KPH. We have also put some of the older beds into retirement," he said.

Both hospitals attend to at least 2,000 patients daily.

Bounty said that he felt it was his duty to contribute to the health institutions, both of which attended to him in the past. He also implored other Jamaicans to support the cause.

"To be realistic, we all know how the economical sector is struggling as the ministry is not being financed adequately. Not only was I born here (VJH), but I spent nine days at KPH after I received a gunshot wound to my lung," he said. "They took care of me and pushed me out to become an international dancehall artiste."