Alternate Funding Sources Identified for Purchase of Hemodialysis Units and Mammogram Machine as Well as to Sustain "Meals on Wheels" and Homemaker's Program

Funding also identified for design of expansion and renovations
at both hospitals' emergency rooms

Given the Administration’s continuing commitment to addressing health care needs and services to the territory’s senior citizens, Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. said Saturday that various funding sources have been identified to fund vital expenditures in the Departments of Health, Human Services and at the territorial hospitals. 

“Although the grave fiscal condition of the government required my vetoing these appropriations last month, I am keenly aware of the importance of these various items. Within days of my veto, I directed members of the financial team to identify already existing funding sources to allow these various programs and initiatives to be funded,” de Jongh said, adding, that “my primary charge to the financial team was that the aggregate appropriation level of the government not be increased but that previously approved but not yet obligated funds be identified to ensure the proper level of funding for these programs.”

In the days ahead, de Jongh said, Administration representatives will be meeting with members of the Senate who originally sponsored the funding for these programs to discuss the Administration’s strategy to fund the projects and programs. The projects to be funded include: the purchase of 20 hemodialysis units, ten for each of the two hospitals, the purchase of a mammogram machine at the Juan F. Luis Hospital, purchase of HIV/AIDS medication and funding for the Meals on Wheels and Homemaker’s Program at the Department of Human Services. 

de Jongh also said that his veto of the bill that would have appropriated $3 million for the renovations and upgrade of the Juan F. Luis Hospital Emergency Room was necessary because the funds are not available. “Clearly, the $3 million is not adequate to fund the entire restoration and expansion of the JFL hospital emergency room and there is also a need to fund renovations and upgrades to the Roy L. Schneider Hospital. Working with members of the Senate, we have identified an existing appropriation that can be reprogrammed to provide $3 million for design services for the renovation work at both hospitals’ emergency rooms. This will provide the funding to develop plans and specifications that will be necessary as we move forward with identifying adequate funding for the needed renovations to our hospitals.”

de Jongh said it is important that, in these tough economic times, “the Senate and I maintain an open line of communication as we utilize our scarce financial resources to provide vital services to the residents of the Virgin Islands.”