Spanish hotel chain, Riu, gave toys, cake and drinks to the children at the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital Paediatric Ward on Tuesday afternoon, but the most important gift presented to them was a $350,000 pulse oxymeter.

The equipment, which is used to measure the oxygen concentration in the blood, was handed over to paediatric consultant, Dr. Everton Hylton and his team who, for the past year, have struggled with a single oxymeter that works intermittently.

The facility is the only public hospital in Westmoreland, and is in need of at least four such apparatus to sustain the health and welfare of the children admitted.

Huge contribution

Dr. Hylton, in his acceptance speech, spoke of the contribution the new equipment would make, especially in relation to the children suffering from asthma and cardio respiratory conditions.

"This equipment has saved a lot of lives," he said.

He added: "The nurses and doctors here will be able to monitor and take better care of the children."

The advantages of the oxymeter are the pulse-by-pulse detection of rapid changes in oxygen saturation and the substantially low maintenance required for the equipment. It has been found very useful in managing emergency outpatients, admitted critically ill children and initiation and weaning of ventilator patients and intra-operative monitoring.

The Paediatric Unit sees an average of 200 patients per month.

Tuesday's gesture was the commencement of a long-term partnership between the hotel group and the Paediatric Ward which it promises to transform into the "crème de crème of paediatrics in Jamaica," Daniel Camponovo, regional director of operations, Riu, said.

The regional director also promised that his company would purchase another oxymeter for the hospital in three months, if this was its most urgent need.

"Whatever your critical needs are we will try to accommodate them," he stated.

According to Mr. Camponovo, Jamaica has been very good to Riu.

"What we are building in Westmoreland is a very positive environment which will not only benefit the children of our employees, but generally children who are in need of proper health care."

Approximately 1,500 Jamaicans are employed to the three Riu resorts in Negril and Ocho Rios and, with the completion of its Montego Bay property in September 2008, some 600 more Jamaicans are to be employed.