Gov’t Looking to Build Children’s Hospital in Western Jamaica

The Government is looking at constructing a children’s hospital in the western end of the island, and is inviting partners in the undertaking.

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, said the project is a major priority for the government as part of its plans for improvements within the health sector.

The Minister, who was addressing the American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) grant award ceremony on April 4, at the Iberostar Hotel in Montego Bay, stated that “there has been a lot of talk for some time about the gap in health service delivery for minors over the age of 12”, and so the facility will address the needs of pre-adolescents and adolescents.

Noting that the Bustamante Hospital for Children has done a tremendous job in catering for the zero to 12 age cohort, Minister Ferguson said that the situation where children have to travel across the island to access specialist care at that facility cannot continue.

“It is time to do something about it.  We are seeking partners within and outside of the state sector to make this a reality,” he stated.

“There is room for many partners in this initiative including architectural work, construction, the equipping of the hospital and the staffing of the institution,” he informed, noting that it will take some two to three years to implement the project.

By Bryan Miller, JIS Reporter