Digicel aids construction of special-needs children"s centre

Scores of persons gathered in Rose Hall, Montego Bay recently for the opening of a state-of-the-art building for the NAZ Children’s Centre.

The new facility was constructed with a $36.7 million grant from the Digicel Foundation, one of Jamaica’s leading supporters of the special-needs sector. Additional contributions of cash and kind came from Rosehall Developments, Master Spas, Cascade Group, Spanish-Jamaican Foundation, Coldmax Mart Ltd. and Maffessanti Architecture and Urban Design.

The NAZ Children’s Centre is a multifaceted educational institution for average and above-average learners and children with special needs-each of whom gets specialised attention. It provides quality education for students with learning and other challenges such Down’s Syndrome, autism, learning delays and cerebral palsy who constitute about half the student cohort.

The new facility will not only allow NAZ to double its special needs cohort to 100 but also offer a Leadership Education and Achievement Programme for special-needs children over 13 years to learn a skill in craftwork, landscaping and cosmetology.

It offers more space and allows teachers additional room to be more creative. The new school boasts a multifunctional library and computer room, five classrooms-four of which are used for inclusive learning and one for customised instruction for children with severe mental or physical impairment. The environmentally friendly new school building was designed to allow for maximum air flow throughout classrooms, eliminating the need for air conditioning units, thereby reducing energy and operational costs.

Samantha Chantrelle, chief executive officer at the Foundation told the gathering that the Foundation is committed to improving the lives of persons with special needs and intends to create ten centres of excellence across the island by 2016.

According to the Founder and Principal of NAZ, Alixann Narcisse-Campbell: “The students and staff are very excited and happy for this new building; we can now reach many more children who desperately need this kind of specialised support.”

View the original article here

Digicel aids construction of special-needs children"s centre

Shaggy says staff at Bustamante Children"s Hospital are "miracle workers"

Latest News

Tuesday, December 31, 2013 | 2:46 PM

ST ANDREW, Jamaica — From having to use warm water to thaw frozen blood for use in operations, to eventually being able to purchase blood warmers, the Bustamante Hospital for children in St Andrew has been saving lives through mere resourcefulness.And Shaggy, the man behind the Shaggy Make a Difference Foundation that has been raising funds to assist the hospital through a charity concert since 2009, has lauded the medical practitioners there, labelling them “miracle workers”.“I am working with a really good group of professional doctors and nurses at the hospital,” said Shaggy. “Now they are not the most well-equipped, and they are not the most heavily staffed, but these people are miracle workers.”Shaggy was speaking at the Jamaica Observer’s Monday Exchange at the newspaper’s headquarters on Beechwood Avenue in St Andrew.The international recording artiste reflected on a visit to the health facility when he noticed them placing frozen blood in a pot of hot water to get it to the appropriate temperature for operation.“These are the things that they do, that are unconventional, but save lives,” Shaggy said.Dr Lambert Ennis, head of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care at the hospital, reiterated the resourcefulness of the doctors at the institution, saying the team at the institution are some of the best in the world.–Anika RichardsLike our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

HOUSE RULES

1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper – email addresses will not be published.

2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.

3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.

4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.

5. Please don’t use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed:mailto:advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.

6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.

7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

comments powered by

View the original article here

Shaggy says staff at Bustamante Children"s Hospital are "miracle workers"

Shaggy says staff at Bustamante Children"s Hospital are "miracle workers"

News

Tuesday, December 31, 2013 | 2:46 PM

ST ANDREW, Jamaica — From having to use warm water to thaw frozen blood for use in operations, to eventually being able to purchase blood warmers, the Bustamante Hospital for children in St Andrew has been saving lives through mere resourcefulness.And Shaggy, the man behind the Shaggy Make a Difference Foundation that has been raising funds to assist the hospital through a charity concert since 2009, has lauded the medical practitioners there, labelling them “miracle workers”.“I am working with a really good group of professional doctors and nurses at the hospital,” said Shaggy. “Now they are not the most well-equipped, and they are not the most heavily staffed, but these people are miracle workers.”Shaggy was speaking at the Jamaica Observer’s Monday Exchange at the newspaper’s headquarters on Beechwood Avenue in St Andrew.The international recording artiste reflected on a visit to the health facility when he noticed them placing frozen blood in a pot of hot water to get it to the appropriate temperature for operation.“These are the things that they do, that are unconventional, but save lives,” Shaggy said.Dr Lambert Ennis, head of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care at the hospital, reiterated the resourcefulness of the doctors at the institution, saying the team at the institution are some of the best in the world.–Anika Richards

HOUSE RULES

1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper – email addresses will not be published.

2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.

3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.

4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.

5. Please don’t use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed:mailto:advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.

6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.

7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

comments powered by

View the original article here

Shaggy says staff at Bustamante Children"s Hospital are "miracle workers"

Shaggy appeals to corporate entities to assist children"s hospital

Latest News

Monday, December 30, 2013 | 4:48 PM

ST ANDREW, Jamaica — International artiste Shaggy on Monday issued an appeal for corporate entities in Jamaica and the Diaspora to help in assisting the Bustamante Children’s Hospital and other such facilities in Jamaica.The Shaggy and Friends Make a Difference Charity concert, is geared towards raising funds to assist the Bustamante Hospital, and the artiste has been behind the venture for the past five years.Shaggy said that he had been making donations to the hospital before he created the Shaggy and Friends Foundation, but eventually went public because he needed help.He was speaking to journalists at the Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange forum held at the newspaper’s headquarters on Beechwood Avenue in St Andrew.More in tomorrow’s Jamaica Observer.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

HOUSE RULES

1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper – email addresses will not be published.

2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.

3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.

4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.

5. Please don’t use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed:mailto:advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.

6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.

7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

comments powered by

View the original article here

Shaggy appeals to corporate entities to assist children"s hospital

Shaggy appeals to corporate entities to assist children"s hospital

Entertainment

Monday, December 30, 2013 | 4:48 PM

ST ANDREW, Jamaica — International artiste Shaggy on Monday issued an appeal for corporate entities in Jamaica and the Diaspora to help in assisting the Bustamante Children’s Hospital and other such facilities in Jamaica.The Shaggy and Friends Make a Difference Charity concert, is geared towards raising funds to assist the Bustamante Hospital, and the artiste has been behind the venture for the past five years.Shaggy said that he had been making donations to the hospital before he created the Shaggy and Friends Foundation, but eventually went public because he needed help.He was speaking to journalists at the Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange forum held at the newspaper’s headquarters on Beechwood Avenue in St Andrew.More in tomorrow’s Jamaica Observer.

HOUSE RULES

1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper – email addresses will not be published.

2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.

3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.

4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.

5. Please don’t use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed:mailto:advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.

6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.

7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

comments powered by

View the original article here

Shaggy appeals to corporate entities to assist children"s hospital