ECC Bedside Ministry Positively Impacts QE Hospital’s Caregiver Crisis in Barbados
An urgent request from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in Barbados, for volunteers to assist its staff of caregivers, received an immediate response from the Adventist Community Services of the East Caribbean Conference. T
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Nine Adventist Community Services Volunteers receive their certificates for completing the training necessary to carry on the Volunteer Assistance Mealtime Program . Among them is Community Services Director of the East Caribbean Conference, Pastor Dayle Haynes. Image from Barbados Today News.
An urgent request from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in Barbados, for volunteers to assist its staff of caregivers, received an immediate response from the Adventist Community Services of the East Caribbean Conference. The request is under the purview of the hospital’s Clinical Nutrition Services and is known as the Volunteer Mealtime Assistant Program. While this significant program addresses the crucial issues of food loss and waste at the healthcare facility, it ensures that patients receive the nutrition they need during recovery. Volunteers are taught how to feed patients and are given basic instructions on bedside care.
The President of the East Caribbean Conference, Pastor Anthony Hall, placed the Church’s response into perspective. He said, “The Adventist Church has been partnering with the community in the East Caribbean Conference on numerous projects and initiatives, at a conference level and on a church level, while promoting the healthy lifestyle the Church promotes. Dozens of interventions have been conducted to benefit the population in general, but this was an opportunity to reach [people] in a time of need. It is a testament to the transformative power of community involvement and the meaningful impact that can be achieved when hearts and hands unite.”
Twenty-nine volunteers from several Seventh-day Adventist churches registered to be included as volunteer caregivers at the island’s main hospital. These compassionate volunteers underwent rigorous preparation which equipped them with skills and knowledge to fulfill their roles, effectively. Their commitment to enhancing the hospital-experience for patients is unwavering.
Pastor Dayle Haynes, the Community Services Director of the East Caribbean Conference receiving his certificate in completion of the bedside volunteer program. Image from Pastor Dayle Haynes
Pastor Dayle Haynes, the Community Services Director of the East Caribbean Conference, stated that nine individuals were already trained by the hospital and are available for patient care. Leading by example, Pastor Haynes also engaged in the training exercise. He commented, “As a Church, that is who we are and we are happy to step up to the plate and make a difference. We are very thankful to have partnered with the hospital to assist so many in vulnerable and needy circumstances. The nine volunteers are just the first cohort, comprised mainly of senior members. The next group will include teens and young adults. We are committed to reflecting who God is, serving, and offering the best for His children. Their presence brought a new ray of hope and comfort to the patients during their mealtimes. With their warm smiles, gentle words of encouragement, and attentive care, they created a nurturing environment that enhanced the healing process for those in need.”
He also underscored that the goal of the action taken by the Adventist Church was to express solidarity with hospitals, health workers, and members who are all stretched beyond capacity and supplies during this time. Pastor Haynes added, “We fully understand that in the face of the enormity of the situation, this support is the proverbial drop in the bucket but it's a pivotal thing and it's a delight for us to be doing this at the QEH. Government leaders explained that with limited personnel in the health system, there is need for assistance with feeding patients [which aids] the reduction of food loss. We could not allow that call to go without doing something. It was an opportunity to connect with the community and to give back to our community.”
Certificates were distributed by acting Dietitian Kerri-Ann Best (left) and Minister of state in the Ministry of Health and Wellness with for QEH, Dr. Sonia Browne (right). Image from Pastor Dayle Hynes
Church leaders emphasized the importance of ministering to people as Christ did. They agreed that support, though modest, for the health emergency was right - given the overwhelming crisis facing the population and, by extension, those in need.
Stories of gratitude and transformation have begun to emerge and they paint a beautiful picture of the impact made by the East Caribbean Conference's bedside ministry. Patients shared how the volunteers' presence brightened their days - making their hospital stay more bearable. Families expressed deep appreciation for the assistance and compassion shown to loved ones when they were most vulnerable. The church through its President Pastor Anthony Hall, conculded, "We wish to congratulate Pastor Dayle Haynes and all of our volunteers for seeing a need and filling it. The church is proud of its members who are living out the principles of what it means to be Christian."
Beyond the hospital walls, this ministry also inspired others to get involved. Witnessing the selfless acts of service, members of the community found renewed motivation to give back. The Volunteer Mealtime Assistant Program became a catalyst for change and ignited a spirit of volunteerism that spread far and wide.