Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital got $25,000 Wednesday to renovate its women’s and children’s division facilities. The generous donation from Cane Bay Partners V.I. cofounder David Johnson brought his contribution to the renovations to $50,000, according to the hospital and Cane Bay Partners.
During a tour of the division, JFL officials said support such as this helps keep the hospital in compliance with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service requirements..
Johnson donated the first $25,000 installment in 2014 and on Wednesday presented the division with the second $25,000 installment. The funds from the initial donation were used to renovate facilities within the Women’s and Children’s Division.
The rooms were furnished by Sampson House, located on Company Street in downtown Christiansted. More rooms will be renovated and furnished with the second installment of the donation.
The Women’s and Children’s Division includes the mother/ baby unit, neonatal intensive care unit, the pediatrics unit and the labor and delivery unit.
In a statement, Johnson said he was proud to support the hospital and specifically the women’s and children’s division.
"This is where our most vulnerable and joyful moments happen and I, for one, am willing to do whatever is within my power to ensure they are supported and growing.”
“I will continue to find ways to support the hospital so all residents and visitors have top notch services for when they need them because, as we know, it’s not a matter of if we will need the hospital, but when. I challenge all citizens, particularly corporate citizens, to find ways to meaningfully support this critical institution,” Johnson said.
After the check presentation on Wednesday, hospital officials gave a tour of the renovated rooms.
“JFL would like to thank Mr. Johnson for his continued support of the Women’s and Children’s Division of the hospital,” said JFL Chief Nursing Officer Justa Encarnacion. “Last year’s donation of $25,000 sparked new life in both the staff and the OB/GYN physicians. The entire department became invigorated with planning ideas for the renovation project and it is demonstrated in the outcome of the rooms,” Encarnacion said.
Many hands at JFL worked together to complete the pilot project and upgrades to the rooms could not be accomplished without the assistance of NICU nurse manager Faye John-Baptiste, who championed the effort to have the rooms renovated. JFL’s maintenance crews under the guidance of JFL plant carpenter Chever Donaldson also deserve praise for their tireless work to complete the upgrades.
“Our goal is to eventually have every single room in both the Labor and Delivery and Mother/Baby units beautifully renovated like the ones we just completed for the comfort of our community,” JFL acting Chief Executive Officer Dr. Ken Okolo said.
This is the second major donation JFL received this year, according to the hospital. On Jan. 4, during a board meeting, JFL board member Philip Arcidi presented JFL with a check for $55,000 on behalf of Greenleaf V.I. II Inc. Greenleaf previously donated $50,000 in 2014.
