PRESS RELEASE
(Roseau, Dominica. August 12, 2024) – The management of the Dominica China Friendship Hospital (DCFH) has recorded several incidences of vandalism on the premises of the hospital and is deeply concerned about this dangerous trend.
Over the past several months, the hospital has encountered numerous challenges due to the destruction of hospital property, including safety and emergency equipment.
The emergency telephones in the elevators have been maliciously destroyed, in some cases completely ripped from the elevator walls. “These phones have been destroyed on several occasions. They are essential for allowing individuals to alert someone outside in the event of an elevator malfunction or emergency,” informed the Manager of Safety and Security, Mr.
Oliver Frederick.
Cameras on the compound, particularly those inside of the elevators, have been tampered with. Frederick laments that this act can compromise the welfare and security of anyone on the premises.
The most recent incidence of vandalism involved the defacing of the Dominica China Friendship Hospital signs, which were installed at the main entrance to the facility.
“Such acts have no place in a facility specifically designed to provide essential care and attention to loved ones in a safe environment.
Therefore, the Management and Staff of the Dominica Hospitals Authority kindly solicit the full cooperation of the general public in showing due respect to the equipment within the facility,” continued Mr Frederick.
According to the Chief Executive Officer, Nancy Francis, the public must understand the importance of signage and emergency response tools and equipment at the hospital.
“The name of the hospital is prominently affixed so that the general public, emergency responders, and visitors can easily identify the hospital. We should not put anyone in a position to guess where the hospital is located because someone decided to maliciously destroy the signage. It is also very important for the public to respect the property of the State and to cease defacing and destroying emergency response tools, equipment, and apparatus that are placed at strategic locations at the hospital,” Francis explained.
The CEO noted that when such acts occur, funds that were earmarked for other critical hospital operations have to be reallocated to fix the problem. “Everyone should take personal responsibility for the upkeep and overall aesthetics of the hospital. It takes one person to destroy the hard work and effort that are placed in maintaining this beautiful facility. Therefore, I caution the perpetrators of this vicious act, that it will not be tolerated. We urge the general public to take personal responsibility and ownership of the hospital as it is there to serve all of us,” she pleaded.
The hospital management has also reported that on many occasions, visitors and patients have destroyed other items such as doors, toilet seats, toilet paper holders, lockers, and even stolen flash drives from the informational monitors.
The hospital assures that the Safety and Security Department is working very closely with the Police to investigate these incidents and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Anyone with information relating to acts of vandalism at the hospital can contact the Security Department at the Dominica China Friendship Hospital at 266-2135 or the nearest police station.