Health Ministry Reviewing Structural Integrity of 105 Health Centres Impacted by Hurricane Melissa

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is moving to assess the structural integrity of 105 health centres, damaged in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.

Portfolio Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, said the Ministry has engaged four to five engineering firms to examine the facilities that were in the hurricane’s primary impact zone.

The assessment, he said, will determine whether walls remain sound, if roofs can be restored, and what reinforcement is needed for those with concrete slabs versus zinc roofing.

Dr. Tufton further stated that the review will also determine the costs associated with repairing each of the 105 centres.

“We’re hoping to conduct that arrangement over the next three months, and then the intention is to engage a range of contractors with very specific directives around the rebuild,” he explained.

“The intention is to rebuild guided by the protocols of our smart health facility, which we have a number of health centres that we have done so with like the health centre in Mandeville. It’s built to withstand stronger disasters like hurricanes,” he added.

The Minister was addressing a media briefing held at the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA) Technical Office at the Freeport Business Centre in St. James on February 7.

Dr. Tufton indicated that while the intention is to begin rebuilding the facilities by mid-year, the necessary pre-work must be completed to guarantee that reconstruction is properly guided and cost-effective.

Meanwhile, repair work continues at several damaged hospitals, including Noel Holmes Hospital in Hanover, Black River Hospital in St Elizabeth, Savanna-la-Mar Hospital in Westmoreland, and Falmouth Public General Hospital in Trelawny.