R1.3 million to buy new elevators for hospital |31 August 2022

A souvenir photograph after the cheque presentation

By Marla Simeon

The Seychelles Hospital will early next year be equipped with new elevators now that a cheque for over R1.3 million has been handed over to the government to buy these much needed equipment.

Judith Strashoon representing the donors – Dr Thomas Kaplan and Daphne Recanati Kaplan of Cap Du Cerf, Cerf Island, Seychelles through the Hope Foundation represented by its chairman Michel Felix handed over the cheque to Vice-President Ahmed Afif in a short ceremony at State House yesterday morning.

Also present at VP Afif’s office to witness the handover of the cheque for R1,384,125.75 were the Minister for Health, Peggy Vidot, and the deputy chief executive of the Seychelles Health Care Agency, Kathleen Cécile.

Expressing her gratitude to the donors Minister Vidot stated that the money has been well received and is very much appreciated as some elevators at the hospital have not been operational for 10 years.

She added that currently the Seychelles Hospital has only two functioning elevators but they need constant servicing and repairs.

“We acknowledge that it was time to make a complete overhaul of the elevators and the government has allocated us some funding to procure one but we know we need to get more than one, in fact we need four. So with the donation we have received now we can buy a second one which will help us greatly and ensure we give a better service,” said Minister Vidot. She added that this is part of the Ministry of Health’s strategy to continue improving services at the Seychelles Hospital.

Mr Felix for his part remarked that the Kaplan couple was happy to make the donation which is going towards a good cause.

Elevators at the hospital are mainly used to facilitate movement of patients, health care providers, as well as for hospital supplies transportation; however members of the public can also make use of them.

One of the four elevators that require replacing is the one that transports supplies. The elevators, which will be fabricated according to the dimensions of the hospital, are expected to arrive in Seychelles and be installed during the first quarter of 2023.

Marla Simeon