Medical X-Ray Institute, DBJ brings advanced healthcare to Old Harbour

The Wisonic Clover Portable Ultrasound Machine was unveiled last Friday at 6 West Medical, a facility owned and operated by Dr. Jacqueline Campbell. The cutting-edge equipment is expected to significantly improve diagnostic services and save critical time for patients.

Deemed a game-changer in the medical industry, the full-function, hand-carried machine provides best-in-class image quality. Its advanced technology can handle up to 5,000 frames per second, which significantly increases diagnostic accuracy. The machine's ultra-wide steer angle also allows it to auto-locate and match vessel angle and blood flow in real time.

The unveiling was made possible through a partnership between the Medical X-Ray Institute and the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ). The DBJ financed the project under its Boosting Innovation, Growth and Entrepreneurship Ecosystems (BIGEE) programme, which is funded by the Government of Jamaica with support from the Inter-American Development Bank and the European Union.

Old Harbour is the third community to benefit from this medical outreach, following similar installations in Mandeville and Albion, St. Thomas.

LuShana Cheddersingh, technical coordinator of the DBJ’s BIGEE programme called the unveiling a “milestone” for Old Harbour that demonstrates “our commitment to advancing healthcare”.   

“This technology represents more than just an upgrade in medical equipment; it signifies improved diagnostics, better patient outcomes, and a step toward a healthier community.

“Ladies and gentlemen this is impact. This is ensuring that all Jamaicans have access to state-of-the-art healthcare,” said Cheddersingh. 

“With this machine, Medical X-Ray Institute is enhancing the ability to provide accurate, timely, and non-invasive imaging, ensuring better care for expectant mothers, early disease detection, and more precise medical assessments. It is an investment in both technology and the well-being of those we serve.” 

Dr. Campbell welcomed the machine as a vital addition to her practice, highlighting its capability to perform echocardiograms (ECGs), which are ultrasounds of the heart.

“If we look at what is happening worldwide and in Jamaica, heart disease is the number one killer of persons,” Dr Campbell said, noting many residents seek ECG service outside the community. 

Dr Campbell, who has been operating in the community since 1991, added: “It is my hope that the partnership between Medical X-Ray Institute Limited and 6 West Medical will be successful as together we enhance the medical services available to the people of Old Harbour and its environs.”

Custos of St. Catherine and Old Harbour native, Icylin Golding, also hailed the installation. “Today marks a transformative moment in the life of our little town,” she stated. “So it is with deep gratitude that this new facility is so thoughtfully placed and which shows progress for our community that has long been underserved. 

“This facility I’m sure stands as a powerful symbol of what’s possible when dedication meets vision. When concern for the wellness of every person is put into action and when diagnostic services of this sort will no longer be out of reach for the citizens of this community.”

Ravi Rambarran, chairman of the Medical X-Ray Institute, provided a sobering context for the machine's importance. He shared data showing that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are responsible for 80 percent of deaths and a significant number of disabilities in Jamaica.

This, he noted, directly impacts the country’s average life expectancy of 72 years and the average “healthy” life expectancy of just 62 years, underscoring the critical need for advanced diagnostic tools like the Wisonic Clover in local communities.

Click here to watch Mr Ramberran’s presentation.