THE Ophthalmology Department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) has received a donation of Bds$100 000 from businessman, Ralph “Bizzy” Williams.
Williams, the Chairman and Founder of Williams Industries Inc. who was accompanied by his wife Shelly Williams and representatives from Williams Industries, made the much-needed donation yesterday morning, during a brief handover ceremony which was attended by Minister of Health, John Boyce; QEH CEO, Dr. Dexter James; Head of the Ophthalmology Department, Dr. Trevor Drakes; and other QEH representatives.
Williams revealed that in his earlier days, he landed a good job after graduating with a degree in electrical engineering, and it was then that he was presented with the opportunity to draw the electrical plans for the QEH.
“So I was here from the beginning with deep feelings for this hospital, and today I say thanks to the 800-plus hard working, industrious people who constitute Williams Industries. I am blessed again to lead this company and to be in a position to give back to the hospital,” he noted.
“I have heard many people criticise this hospital, but I can say from personal experience, that I’ve had excellent treatment here,” he added.
“On the last day of May 2015, I fell on a construction site and broke my leg pretty bad, and when the word got around, three of my good friends… called to say that they would make their jets available to fly me to the United States. I declined. I felt certain that my leg could be fixed here,” Williams revealed.
“So I am now the proud owner of a titanium steel rod, which is down through the centre of the bone. The leg is perfect and I can do anything that I could have done before the leg was broken,” he further commented.
Hospital CEO, Dr. Dexter James, noted that just a couple weeks ago, the QEH launched its QEH Equipment Prospectus, under the acronym QUEST, which stands for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Eye Surgery Theatre. When it was launched, he said, within less than 48 hours the hospital received an e-mail from Williams indicating that he wanted to contribute, by providing funds to recapitalise the facility.
Minister Boyce, meanwhile, placed on record his appreciation for the gracious donation.
“This donation will greatly assist the Department in the purchase of capital equipment. It will also allow us to save considerable funding on expenditure of supplies at the hospital, and provide the opportunity for funds to be spent in other critical areas,” Boyce said.
