The Association represented by 11 Japanese diving shops in Palau handed their cash donation yesterday to the officials and staff of the Bureau of Public Health headed by Minister Stevenson Kuartei.
Japan’s Charge’ d Affaires Kunio Nakamura and Bureau of Hospital & Clinical Services Director Dr. Gregory J. Dever were also there to witness the donation.Dr. Robert Maddison, staff physician and one of the in-charge of the hyperbaric chamber said that the money will help improve the services of the hyperbaric chamber to diving patients.The hyperbaric chamber was just installed in January and was officially opened in February 8.Dr. Maddison said the $110,000 hyperbaric chamber was donated by a private firm in Malaysia through a hyperbaric health company in Australia.The chamber was shipped from Malaysia and it arrived here in December.It’s only Dr. Maddison and Dr. Manix Jonathan who are trained to operate the hyperbaric chamber.The hyperbaric chamber is specifically used for treating diving accidents.Dr. Maddison said the hyperbaric chamber can treat wounds caused by diving accidents. It can also treat severe wounds.The chamber can accommodate two patients at the same time.The standard treatment for a patient is five hours.
