The Tribune

The Okyanos Heart Institute will tomorrow host an educational seminar on the proposed cardiac stem cell therapy that it plans to use in treating patients with coronary heart disease.

Attendees will also be given updates on employment opportunities and contractual services that will be needed once the Grand Bahama-based facility opens.

“This is a very exciting time for Grand Bahama,” said Ian Rolle, the Grand Bahama Port Authority’s (GBPA) president.

“Several new ventures including Okyanos, a new call centre and many others, are about to open, affording opportunities for diverse areas of employment for hundreds of residents on the island.”

At tomorrow’s meeting, Okyanos officials will provide a preliminary list of medical, clinical and administrative jobs that the institute will need to fill towards the end of the year.

An overview will be given on the support services that will be needed from small businesses on the island, such as janitorial, hospital grade laundry, transportation, lodging, catering and pest control.

“Okyanos Heart Institute will have a number of service needs from the local business community,” said Erika Mangrum, its spokesperson. “We hope to meet potential suppliers and servicers, and share what our needs will be from service providers, and share employment needs once we are close to opening in February.

“We could not be more enthused about bringing patients to the beautiful island of Grand Bahama in the hopes of improving the quality of their lives by restoring flow to their hearts.”

Mr Rolle said scores of Grand Bahamians were already benefiting from employment as preparations continue in advance of Okyanos’ arrival.

More than 70 construction workers are completing the final phases of the medical complex on the upper floors of The First Commercial Centre on The Mall Drive.

“As each of these new developments come on stream, it’s creating job opportunities in the preliminary construction phase and post-operations. This increased employment subsequently brings about an economic injection and positive well-being within the local community,” Mr Rolle added.