On Saturday, January 7, several members of the non-profit association FEMUR went to the local hospital to present its director, Pierre Nuty, and his medical staff with a Dynamap Pro 1000. The multi-parametric monitor, equipped for remote data transmission, takes blood pressure, measures the pulse, cardiac activity, and the level of oxygen in the blood. The hospital already has one Dynamap Pro 1000, donated by the Rotary Club. These machines are essential for emergency treatment and observation of patients. The donation of the second machine represents the desire by the director of the hospital to double the available equipment to meet the needs of an island that is isolated both geographically and politically.
The French government had long forgotten the tiny island of Saint Barth, that was traded to the Swedes in 1784 in exchange for some warehouses, then given back to the French a century later. The “St. Barths” lived in a state of sheer poverty and it was hard to make ends meet. In 1817, the nuns from the order of St. Paul de Chartres were asked by the French Minister of the Interior to set up overseas in Martinique and Guadeloupe, in order to take care of the local population. As of 1853, when they began to work at the military hospital in Saint Martin, they also began to visit Saint Barth on a regular basis. In 1922, noting the absence of a medical infrastructure on the island, Father Irénée de Bruyn, a Dutch priest with the local parish, decided to build a hospital. He tried to raise money on the island but the donations were not enough. So Father de Bruyn asked for financial aid from the Dutch government in Curaçao, and they agreed to build the hospital. Marie and Elvina Hayes donated the land where the hospital was built. With volunteer help from the local population, construction started in 1930. A building that included a room for a dozen patients, a small kitchen, and a tiny space for a pharmacy, was completed three years later. The official inauguration was held on February 18, 1934. The hospital, more like a Catholic mission than a real hospital, functioned thanks to the work of three nurse-nuns from the order St. Paul de Chartres, yet the means for treating the sick were extremely minimal. Women, who until then had given birth at home, started coming to the Hospital de Bruyn when their babies were born. In 1966, the Mother Superior requested that the nuns return to their central convent in Martinique. Due to lack of funds to hire civilian nurses, the Hospital de Bruyn closed its doors on February 1, 1967. The local branch of a public assistance association helped the transit the sick to Saint Martin. It wasn’t until 1970 that the hospital in Saint Barth opened again, thanks to the fact it was named a departmental facility thanks to a suggestion from the association for the protection of children, and the Catholic diocese of Guadeloupe. A director was named but due to a lack of funds to hire a staff, the nuns from St. Paul de Chartres were once again called upon. On several occasions, the hospital found itself without a director, and it wasn’t until 1979 that the decision was made in Guadeloupe to have the director of the hospital in Saint Martin also run the one in Gustavia. The hospital de Bruyn was always considered a place for initial emergency care, before seriously ill or injured patients are evacuated by airplane to larger hospitals in Guadeloupe or Martinique as quickly as possible. Over the years, there were several unsuccessful attempts to create a true surgical facility. On August 30, 1991, a decree by the Prefect changed the official status of the hospital, which meant the closing of the three beds that made up an informal maternity ward, in keeping with a law passed on July 31, 1991 that called for the closing of all maternity wards in local hospitals by July 31, 1996 at the latest. Due to this decision by the French government, women could no longer give birth in Saint Barth, and they are required to leave for Saint Martin or Guadeloupe at least a month before the baby is due (as the airlines refuse to transport women who are past seven and a half months pregnant), and wait there until the baby is born.
In the 1970s, the island began to attract more tourists. Seduced by its charms and tranquility, American visitors began to build vacation homes. By spending several months a year on the island, they became aware of the precarious medical situation faced by the residents. Even though the hospital was a departmental unit run by Guadeloupe, actual support from the department was rather minimal. Did the director of the hospital not ask for aid, or did Guadeloupe turn a deaf ear? No one can say for sure. Yet one thing is sure: regular donations from individuals helped the hospital enormously. In 1981, Peter Mund, an American citizen who had a home in Vitet, created FEMUR (Foundation for Emergency Medical Equipment). The association includes several members who lead a regular fund-raising campaign to finance the purchase of equipment that the hospital needs to function more effectively. FEMUR also helped provide the equipment for the new dialysis center that opened 18 months ago next to the dispensary. Raymond Magras, Jo Félix and Ernest Brin, three members of FEMUR, have announced that they will start raising money once again as soon as they know what equipment is needed for the new wing of the hospital.
Beyonce and Jay-Z have taken their daughter on her first vacation. The couple, who celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary last week, have been enjoying the sunshine on the Caribbean island of St. Barts with three-month-old Blue Ivy over the weekend, and took the tot for a day trip on a yacht.
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Kick-off Les Voiles de Saint Barth 2012 Caribbean regatta in the magical French West Indies sailing paradise!
Today the prestigious and top-class Caribbean sailing regatta Les Voiles de St. Barth 2012 with Gaastra Sportswear as the official partner starts: At the third edition run...
Inside the Bucket.
This video features the 2012 St Barths Bucket Regatta and music by the Evan Goodrow Band. Special thanks to the entire crew of the Rebecca, Baz Bar, St Barths Online and the guys from the Evan Goodrow Band for putting on a fantastic show. The song from the Evan Goodrow Band is c...
On board with Rebecca.
The best event in St Barths took place on March 24 - 27, 2012. This video features the beautiful 141 ft sailing yacht, The Rebecca.
produced by Real Media Travel for St. Barths Online and Baz Bar St Barth.
The age old saying of "I need a holiday to get over my holiday" actually seems applicable if you happen to be Paul McCartney.
The Beatle took wife Nancy Shevell on a romantic break to the Caribbean island of St Barts, just days after the pair visited Paris.
Last week, the lovebirds showed support ...
On the day their pregnancy news was announced, Thor star Chris Hemsworth, 28, and Elsa Pataky, 35, were seen in sunny St. Barts, France on Wednesday (January 18). The Fast Five actress looked lovely in blue, sporting her beautiful baby bump.
Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky
Chris and Elsa - w...
She might be 44, but Tamara Mellon still boasts a figure that women half her age would be proud of.
The Jimmy Choo co-founder showed off her toned figure in a sexy animal-print bikini as she hit the beach with her daughter in St Barts yesterday.
The skimpy string two-piece highlighted Tamara's env...
With almost every other celebrity couple enjoying the New Year in exotic locations, Gary and Danielle Lineker weren't going to be any different.
The married couple were spotted enjoying a romantic walk along a beach in St Barts today - and looked very much in love.
Gary, 51 and his wife, 32, had o...
Which beaches to choose?
The glamorous island of St Barts is one of the Caribbean's top beach destinations. Ringing the island are immaculate strips of sand and ethereal turquoise waters. The shallow reefs that encircle the island help to protect these renowned beaches, and they also provide excell...
St. Barts, Why Not?
Since the wealthy and celebrated frequently visit St. Barts for a tropical vacation, you will find that many plush St. Barts Resorts can be found on this stunning island. For those taking St. Barts holidays, it is simple to find hotels with each luxury available. Frequently thes...
Vacation With the Rich and Famous at St. Barts.
Want to bump into celebrities and be seen hanging out where the rich and famous play? Then the Caribbean island of St. Barts is the place to be.
While warm sand and blue waters do make an ideal vacation location, this destination has that and a whol...
Where to go for one day in Caribbean?
St. Maarten / St. Martin
The half-Dutch, half-French island of St. Maarten/St. Martin, with its many restaurants and hotels, makes a great base for an island-hopping adventure. Graced by the nickname Unspoiled Queen, tiny little Saba is not the kind of Caribbe...
Villa La Plage in St Barts.
The posh French resort isle of St. Barth's was already a prize destination when Roman Abramovich purchased an estate there for $89 million in 2009; since the oligarch arrived it has become even more so.
Now Christie's International Real Estate has listed another impres...
Baywatch in St Barts.
Making it official after five years of engagement, Brooke Burke and beau David Charvet have reportedly tied the knot while yachting in St. Barts.
According to Life & Style, the "Dancing with the Stars" host and the former "Baywatch" hunk, who have been vacationing in the...
St. Barth Summer Sessions Aug. 5-15, 2011
St Barth Summer Sessions 2011 this year will have a focus on artists from Brazil. The festival will take place at a variety of different venues all over the island, and in the end of the festival there will be a big common concert in the Harbor of Gustavia ...
The Eclipse, no ordinary yacht.
It probably hasn't escaped your attention that, with modern methods of transport, measuring and telecommunication, no "terra incognita" is safe from the crazed enthusiasm of certain explorers of scientists. Everything has already been discovered and minutely placed o...
Ashley Rodriguez Trio
Ashley Rodriguez, one of the famous finalist from the American Idol 2010 is back in St Barth between May 5-15. Ashley was participating last summer for the St Barth Summer Session in august 2010 at La Plage and she will now come with her 'All Girls Band', Liz on the guitar ...
The La Plage restaurant introduce :
ST BARTH SUMMER SESSIONS
« 5 to 15 august 2010, 10 days of crazy music ! »
Festival program
La Plage St Jean Tel: 0590 52 81 33 Email: tombeach@wanadoo.fr Site: www.stbarthsummersessions.com
THE GREAT FISH DEBATE There seems to be a bone of contention among a few of my friends. Fine folks who love some of the finer things in life, such as Dover Sole That flat fish floating in butter and capers. Known in French as Sole Meunière, it is made from what is called in European fisherman ver...
