Ministry of Health defends its administration of the Regional Gordon Fund for Children
March 05, 2006
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua
The Ministry of Health, Sports and Youth Affairs, authorized administrator of the Reginald Gordon Fund for Children, is particularly distressed that this very worthwhile project should form the subject of negative public comment via the media.
By a Legal Agreement, dated 13th May, 1983, Mrs. Millicent Percival was appointed Trustee of the special Reginald Gordon Fund which is to provide assistance to needy children for medical attention, locally or overseas.
Since the establishment of this special Fund, Mrs. Percival has been regularly disbursing appropriate money as authorized by the Estate of the late Reginald Gordon.
To date, several children, at the Children's Ward of the Holberton Hospital have benefited from the proceeds of the Fund. On several occasions, numerous children have been sent to the University of the West Indies Hospital in Jamaica and other health institutions outside the region for medical treatment, which was not available here in Antigua and Barbuda.
Health Officials are informing the general public that there is much activity in the administration of the Fund for medical purposes overseas and assistance have also been given to the Health for the Children Foundation Incorporation here in Antigua.
According to the legal agreement, the Reginald Gordon Fund is to assist children at the Children's Ward of the Holberton Hospital who require specialist treatment and who are referred by the Hospital Authorities or otherwise for treatment at the University Hospital of the West Indies or any medical institution under the control of or affiliated with the University of the West Indies.
The Reginald Gordon Fund which is accounted for at the Antigua Commercial Bank, now stands at EC$194,185.20.
The Ministry of Health recognizes that Healthcare is an expensive social service and also appreciates that Government alone cannot satisfy the health demands of the Nation's unwell citizens.
It is because of this fact that Government welcomes the generosity of such public-spirited individuals like the late Reginald Gordon in making their contributions to their fellowmen even after their death.
The government through the Ministry of Health would eagerly welcome the efforts of many other citizens in this form. The Ministry also commends Mrs. Millicent Percival for her sterling work in the administration of the Estate of the Late Reginald Gordon.
©Copyright 2005 - Government of Antigua and Barbuda.
