feb-2018c

18 19 OPENING LINES that ismore readilyavailable inthedevelopedworld.For the past12years,theHICFoundationhasprovidedmore than US$12million infreeor subsidizedcare to itspatients–a significant contributionasmore thanhalf of thehospital deaths in Jamaicaarecausedbycardiovasculardisease. Over theyears,theHIChasexpanded its services tomeet theneedsof itsgrowingclientele.These includea recent investmentofmore thanUS$4milliontoopenthe region’s first andonlyfull-service,24-hourHeartHospital.Thanks toaUS$83,000grant fromthe JapaneseGovernment,HIC purchasedtwoadditional cardiacambulances toexpand its fleetofdedicatedcardiacambulances tooffer theonlycardi- acemergencyambulanceservice in Jamaica.AllHICcardiac ambulancesare fullyequippedwithresuscitationdevices includingventilatorsandhave thecapabilityforTelemedi- cine-allowingremote interventionfromcardiacspecialists. Dr.Maduhadthis tosayonreceivinghisaward:“Although therehavebeensignificant advances inmedical technology globally,thedevelopingworldhasbeen leftbehind.The Heart Instituteof theCaribbean isworkinghardtochange that realityascardiacrelated illnessescontinue tobe the numberonecauseofdeath in JamaicaandtheCaribbean. Ourmission is toprovide the latest incardiaccare toour patientsandto leadthecharge towards increasingaccess tothehighest level ofhealthcareavailable toeveryone– regardlessof their socioeconomicbackground.I amhum- bledandgrateful toGrupoMídia for itsaward.I accept it graciouslywiththehope that itwill bringmoreattentionto theglobal needformoreaccess toappropriate technology andaffordablequalityhealthcare forpeople living in low-re- sourcenationsacross theworld.” Earlier thisyear,Dr.MaduwasalsohonoredbytheAmer- icanCollegeofCardiologywiththeDistinguishedCardiol- ogistAward,thehighesthonorgiveneachyear tothemost distinguishedcardiologistsasdecidedbytheirpeers,inter- nationally.