Jamaica Travel News

RIU Donates to Jamaican Pediatric Clinic

Many of the hotels in Jamaica play an important role in community development, from education to health care. We've just received word that RIU Hotels & Resorts has donated $200,000 US ($16 million Jamaican) to the Pediatric Orthotic Services Clinic in Negril. This clinic provides care, corrective braces and therapy for children with orthopedic (skeletal) injuries, issues or deformities. The funds, which will be distributed over five years, will go toward the operational cost of the clinic including a nurse, office manager and technician who will enable the clinic to provide the best care for children impacted with skeletal issues. The gift is the largest corporate donation ever made to this clinic in Jamaica.

The Clinic will offer orthotic management and care for children with lower limb weakness, skeletal deformities, spasticity (multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, cerebral palsy), and gait deviations (standing and walking stability). Physicians from the USA will visit the clinic monthly to evaluate patients and provide care for the children. This is part of a Treat & Teach program developed by Gant Meyer, the Executive Director of the Pediatric Orthotic Services Clinic.

"Without RIU, the "Treat & Teach" project was only a dream. I could only talk about it and now it is happening. "Treat & Teach" has the visiting Pediatric Specialists share their expertise and skills with local physicians and medical staff," said Grant Meyer, an orthotic specialist who focuses on treating children with lower extremity anomalies, "The hope is to ultimately raise the bar for the treatment of children's healthcare. Without RIU's support it just would not be possible."

RIU Hotels & Resorts, which has four resorts in Jamaica, will also provide accommodations each month to visiting pediatric orthotic specialists. In Jamaica, RIU supports the Pediatric Ward at the Savanna-la -mar Hospital, a scholarship fund for tourism students at the Montego Bay Community College, and the provision of funding for several students at the Academic Resource Centre for Language in Montego Bay.

About Pediatric Orthotic Services Clinic in Negril

Founded in 2009 by Grant Meyer, Jim Wallace, and Elaine Bradley, Pediatric Orthotic Services Clinic in Negril treats children in Jamaica. Pediatric orthotic specialists from the USA visit the clinic monthly to assess patients, design the orthosis for the desired function and manage care of the patients. Pediatric orthoses are designed to provide joint alignment, correct posture, improve ROM control, and enhance standing and walking stability. The clinic is funded in part by RIU Hotels & Resorts. For more information about the clinic, contact 876-829-2699.

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posted by Paris & John @ 3:18 PM