By Michel Outridge 

Imogen Pydanna-Ferdinand, a former local athlete, is still getting accustomed to her post as Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the New Amsterdam Hospital since being appointed July last year.

The acting CEO is responsible for all administrative matters at the facility, and with the current threat of COVID-19, she is going beyond the call of duty.

She related that with this new post it is not easy but she is open to suggestions and is optimistic that she will manage just well.

“I am doing this job because I know I can serve the community in this capacity and help improve the lives of others and that is comforting in itself,” she said.

Pydanna- Ferdinand is accustomed to working from home and her family prefers it that way, but now that she has to be out of the house at such a high-risk period, she stated they are very concerned for her wellbeing.

She pointed out that she is doing everything to keep her family safe when she gets home from work she sanitises everything and goes to the shower right away then she mingles with her family.

The acting CEO added that with COVID-19 they are putting measures in place to safeguard all staff and she is there to offer any form of assistance to uplift women and will carry out her duties in a professional manner.

The mother of two stated that she applied for the position last year and didn’t hear anything until she got a telephone call to go in and, now, here she is, working at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

Pydanna- Ferdinand stated that the New Amsterdam Hospital has 451 persons in its employ and so far, the staff have been cooperative in implementing certain measures to safeguard themselves while at the institution.

“I hardly go anywhere unless it is absolutely necessary and when I go home I don’t normally come out after,” she said.

She added that her trust is in God and she is hoping that people take the virus a seriously, noting its implications and is praying for everyone at this time.

Pydanna-Ferdinand is the daughter of former West Indian cricketer Robert Milton Pydanna. The Pydannas are a family of athletes, who came from humble beginnings.

Healthy Minds Swim School
Pydanna-Ferdinand is known for offering her home pool to teach both children and adults to swim and do aerobics. She said, however, that she has put all swimming classes on hold until further notice since the lock-down has been put in place and the Peace Corps volunteers have all gone back to their respective countries.

“Well the swimming thing is my passion and I can’t give up on it and I am hoping we tide over this virus so we can go back to normalcy,” she said.

Last year, she had enrolled more than 300 children where she has 12 instructors and two Peace Corps volunteers.