East End Health Center Reopens To Provide Limited Medical Services, Receives $1 Million In Donated Medical Relief Supplies

ST. THOMAS — The St. Thomas East End Medical Center Corporation (S.T.E.E.M.C.C.) will officially reopen on Monday at 11:00 a.m. and offer limited service until 3:30 p.m. to stay in compliance with the government issued curfew and operating hours of the Tutu Park Mall, the medical facility announced Friday.

A humanitarian relief gift of approximately $1.2 million in medical supplies  donated by Direct Relief, a non-profit humanitarian medical relief organization in Santa Barbara, CA will help supplement provided services, S.T.E.E.M.C.C. said.

Prescription refill orders, tetanus vaccines, insulin, prenatal and urgent care will be provided on a walk-in first come first serve basis. Patients are advised to visit the health center early, bring medication bottles, government issued identification, and insurance cards including medical assistance. The center’s regular appointment operations will be suspended until telephone service and electricity in the St. Thomas/St. John districts have been restored.

Through the referral of Jason Charles of Alpine Securities USVI, — a local investment firm, STEEMCC was able to secure a humanitarian gift of medical supplies to serve St. Thomas/St. John. The health center applied for the gift on September 8th.  A total of 5 skids or highly piled pallets of medications, emergency medical backpacks, hygiene kits, and personal care items were shipped to the health center on Sept. 13 free of charge.

Moleto A. Smith Jr., executive director of S.T.E.E.M.C.C., expressed gratitude for the referral and gift.

“This donation would allow us to address the immediate emergecy needs of thousands of persons severly impacted by hurricane Irma. We will ensure that it is coordinated among the public health entities. Contact has already been made with the Department of Health officials and acting CEO of the Schneider Regional Medical Center to coordinate distribution,” Mr. Smith said. Supplies from the medical relief donation will be shared with the Schneider Regional Medical Center, the Myra Keating Smith Clinic on St. John and the Department of Health clinics on St. Thomas to ensure access to medical care.

For more information on Direct Relief go to http://www.directrelief.org/.