Hospital gets new recompression chambers |22 January 2015

Patients, suffering from decompression sickness will no longer have to be sent to Silhouette Island at high costs for treatment, sometimes at night and in difficult conditions, as it has been the case for the last five years.

This, due to the opening of a new Hyperbaric Treatment Centre at the Seychelles Hospital.  
A gift from the Qatar Development Fund, the new facilities were officially opened yesterday afternoon by the Minister for Health Mitcy Larue and the advisor to the Fund Khalifa Bin Jassim Al-Kuwari, in a short ceremony at the hospital.

Also present were the Minister for Natural Resources Peter Sinon, members of the diplomatic corps, chief executive (CEO) of the Seychelles Health Authority Suresh Menon, principal secretary for Health Peggy Vidot, members of the National Assembly (MNAs) and other health personnel.

Capable of treating seven patients at the same time, the new chambers will not only be useful to divers whoare vulnerable to under water accidents, but will also treat patients suffering from diabetes, bone infections, brain injuries, burns as well as poisoning.

The equipment installation was executed by Amiri Yachts, a boating company based in Qatar which will also ensure proper maintenance of the equipment and provide training to medical staff.

In a short speech, Minister Larue described the opening as an auspicious occasion, since the facilities are important with water sports having become popular with the development of our maritime sector, as promoted by President James Michel as part of the blue economy concept.

She reminded that about fifteen persons are treated annually as a result of diving accidents, which she said can be rather nasty and can lead to difficult health conditions which can go as far as paralysis.

“When accidents happen patients want to have the assurance that they can be treated effectively and quickly and that they can go back to their activities. This is why the facilities were long overdue,” she said.

The health minister took the occasion to express her gratitude to the Qatar Development Fund and Amiri Yachts, promising that the government will continue to bring high quality specialised health care to the people of Seychelles.

The advisor to the Qatar Development Fund Khalifa Bin Jassim Al-Kuwari has on his part indicated that the project is not the first nor the last in the partnership with the Seychelles.

He added that his organisation is looking forward to work with the Ministry of Health in the future.
“One of the great things we have focused on is the good health of the people of Seychelles,” he said.

The president of Amri Yachts Paul Bessant described the opening of the Treatment Centre as a special day which Seychellois mariners had been waiting for a long time.  

He added that his company is proud to be partner in a gift “offered to the wonderful maritime community of the Republic of Seychelles”.

He however reminded that the numerous health benefits the new services will bring will not only go to divers but to a wider public.

On behalf of the Ministry of Health, Dr Menon has promised that the new facilities will be put to good use in order to improve the lives of patients by offering them highest quality health care.

The new recompression chambers replace those installed in 1990 and which since 2010 have been no longer in use.