Shaggy continues to make a difference

For more than two decades, the Jamaican entertainer and international recording artiste Orville 'Shaggy' Burrell, along with his Shaggy Make a Difference Foundation, has been a steadfast supporter of the Bustamante Hospital for Children (BHC) programme, specifically focused on 'mending little hearts'.

Dr Sherard Little, consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at the hospital, said the Foundation's engagement with the health facility has been immensely beneficial, with a "quite significant" impact. While the quantifiable contributions, including financial support, organised concerts, and the provision of equipment are noteworthy, Little emphasised the immeasurable aspect--the countless lives touched by their commitment.

Highlighting Shaggy's dedication to the paediatric health facility, Little revealed that the Foundation has orchestrated six concerts and contributed more than US$2 million (approximately J$309 million), along with providing more than 1,000 pieces of equipment. Notably, the Foundation's most substantial investment went towards the acquisition of a cardiac catheterisation laboratory, surpassing a cost of US$1 million.

This state-of-the-art laboratory has revolutionised cardiac investigations at BHC, eliminating the need for patients to travel to the University Hospital of the West Indies. Little underscored the previous logistical challenges.

"It was very challenging for patients to get investigations done, and there was no other hospital within the public sector which had a cardiac cath lab," he said.

"Bustamante is the first hospital in the public sector to have a cardiac cath lab, which not only allows children to get this important investigation done, but, in some patients with cardiac problems, we can actually do procedures to correct the condition which they have," he shared. Little said that conditions such as holes in the heart or ducts that haven't closed, can be addressed in the cardiac cath lab instead of putting the child through surgery and getting a cut on the chest.

"Having a cardiac cath lab at 'Busta', which is always available to our patients, has gone a long way in terms of making this investigation more readily available to those who need it, more so the children" he said. The consultant surgeon noted the diverse equipment donated by the Foundation, ranging from ventilators to syringe pumps.

He highlighted the collaborative decision-making process on fund utilisation, wherein the hospital staff submits a wish list, and the Foundation allocates funds from its various fund-raising activities. Patients and parents readily identify the donated equipment as life-changing.

Beyond tangible contributions, Shaggy's visits to the hospital have created meaningful connections, with instances where patients on Foundation-donated ventilators were eager for the entertainer's presence. Little recounted a story where Shaggy visited the hospital on one occasion, at which time there was a father who insisted that the entertainer visit his child in the Intensive Care Unit, because the youngster was being supported by a ventilator that was donated by the organisation.

"In tangible ways, he and the Foundation have contributed to changing lives at BHC," Little said.

Little acknowledged the Foundation's role in elevating awareness of the hospital, noting the symbiotic relationship between Shaggy and BHC, attracting additional donors and partners from across the globe.

He added that, in some ways, the name 'Shaggy' has become synonymous with BHC, pointing out that this has encouraged other donors and partners to come on board and make tangible donations.

"So, Shaggy partnering with Bustamante has mushroomed or blossomed into a greater awareness of the hospital and its needs, and so we are able to benefit from this as well," Little emphasised.