JNF General Hospital Honors Dedicated Domestic and Support Staff

The Joseph Nathaniel France General Hospital (JNF) in Basseterre, St. Kitts, inaugurated its semi-annual Employee Awards Ceremony, a new initiative designed to recognize and celebrate the invaluable contributions of its domestic and support staff. The inaugural ceremony, held on July 7, 2025, honored twenty-two individuals representing various departments and spanning across different healthcare facilities within the Ministry of Health’s purview. The event underscored the critical role these often unsung heroes play in ensuring a smooth, efficient, and compassionate healthcare experience for patients.

Curtis Martin, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, delivered a heartfelt address acknowledging the awardees’ dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment. He emphasized the positive feedback received from patients regarding the hospital’s services, directly attributing this satisfaction to the diligent efforts of the domestic and support staff. Their contributions, he stated, were instrumental in maintaining a clean, safe, and welcoming environment, ultimately enhancing the overall patient care experience. Martin’s sentiments resonated with the theme of recognizing and appreciating the crucial, yet often overlooked, contributions of these essential staff members.

Presided over by Operations Manager Stacey Battice, the ceremony took place on the hospital grounds and brought together staff from the JNF General Hospital, Pogson Medical Centre, Mary Charles Hospital, and the Cardin Home. This diverse representation highlighted the Ministry’s commitment to recognizing excellence across its various healthcare facilities. Sixteen awardees hailed from JNF, while the remaining six represented the other institutions, further illustrating the breadth and depth of the recognition. This inclusivity reinforced the message of valuing contributions from across the healthcare network.

The Permanent Secretary underscored the importance of the awardees’ roles, ranging from maintaining hygienic wards and assisting patients to ensuring the smooth operation of the hospital. He praised their professionalism, teamwork, and positive impact on patient care, describing them as the “backbone” of the healthcare system. These accolades emphasized the significance of their work in contributing to a dignified and compassionate healthcare environment. The act of publicly acknowledging these contributions fostered a sense of value and appreciation among the staff.

In addition to the general awards, six JNF employees received special recognition for their exceptional dedication and performance. A memo circulated prior to the event, authored by Director of Operations Lindsey Maynard, highlighted the importance of celebrating staff who consistently exceed expectations. This special recognition further emphasized the hospital’s commitment to acknowledging and rewarding exceptional service, inspiring others to strive for excellence in their respective roles.

Ms. Battice, echoing the sentiments expressed in the memo, emphasized that the “Employees of the Half-Year” had not only met but surpassed expectations, demonstrating professionalism, compassion, and teamwork. She commended their dedication, not just to task completion but to making a meaningful impact on the lives of patients and colleagues. The awards, she added, were a testament to their continuous hard work, integrity, and tireless commitment. This personalized recognition reinforced the value of individual contributions to the collective success of the institution.

The award certificates were presented by Medical Chief of Staff, Dr. Daveen Wilkin, and Director of Operations, Mrs. Lindsey Maynard. The Permanent Secretary, Mr. Martin, apologized for the absence of the Director of Health Institutions, Dr. Jenson Morton, who was representing the Ministry at another engagement. The presence of senior leadership at the ceremony further underscored the importance placed on recognizing the contributions of the domestic and support staff.

The recipients of the awards from JNF General Hospital represented a wide range of departments, including clerical, maintenance, patient care, cashier, Central Sterile Service Department, domestic staff, food service, administration, groundskeeping, medical records, laundry, IT, sewing, and central medical stores. This diversity highlighted the comprehensive nature of the recognition and the value placed on contributions from across all levels of the hospital’s operations.

The recipients from the other healthcare facilities were Anthia Browne and Henrietta Warner from Pogson Medical Centre; Sylvania Hodge-Phillip and Cherima Morson from Mary Charles Hospital; and Hailey Williams and Troy Williams from the Cardin Home. Recognizing staff from these institutions further emphasized the Ministry of Health’s commitment to acknowledging and celebrating excellence across its entire network.

The six JNF employees who received special awards were Sherema Warner (orderly), Levan Thomas (kitchen), Paulette Thomas (domestic staff), Alister Browne (Maintenance Department), Sandy Archibald (Accounts Department), and Trevor Wattley (groundsman). This individual recognition provided an opportunity to highlight exemplary performance within specific departments and further inspire excellence within the hospital.

In her closing remarks, Ms. Battice reiterated the Executive Management Committee’s deep gratitude for the work of all the awardees. She emphasized that their recognition was well-deserved, earned through their continuous hard work, integrity, and tireless dedication to serving patients and staff. This concluding message reinforced the core message of appreciation and the importance of recognizing the vital role played by domestic and support staff in the healthcare ecosystem. The established semi-annual nature of the award ceremony ensures that this appreciation will continue to be expressed and celebrated within the institution.