HEART/NSTA Trust Hands Over Renovated Rio Bueno Health Centre

The HEART/NSTA Trust, Region Three, handed over the renovated Rio Bueno Health Centre in Trelawny on Tuesday (March 19).

The agency, which did the work as part of its annual National Development Project, also installed a rainwater harvesting system on the premises, which includes the installation of two 1,000-gallon tanks. The project also included the provision of computer equipment and landscaping works.

At the ceremony, Deputy Managing Director of the agency, Dr. Cheryl McLaughlin, explained that the purpose of the National Development Project is to make an impact on the community in which it is being done.

“This building is impacting the persons who are unable to afford to go to other health facilities, and the water tanks that were put in place at the back are ensuring that there is a constant water supply, while at the same time we are thinking about the environment and sustainability,” she said.

“We have the greening of different areas because we know about global warming and we know about the part that these green areas play in absorbing the carbon in the atmosphere,” Dr. McLaughlin emphasised.

She commended the team in the region that spearheaded the project and charged the staff of the health centre to offer improved patient care.

“What we ask is that everyone who walks through this door be treated like royalty. Customer care – turn it up! Too many people complain about bad treatment when they go to health facilities. Let this be the health facility of choice. Let it be that people drive from Kingston to come over here and let them walk away thinking about how you made them feel,” she encouraged.

Some 28 HEART trainees from the Beechamville and Falmouth campuses took part in the project, doing plumbing, general construction, and electrical installation as part of their training.

They were supervised by HEART trainers.

Regional Director of HEART/NSTA Trust, Region Three, Dr. Odette Brown, thanked the trainees and other team members for the time and energy put into ensuring the completion of the project.

In her remarks, Member of Parliament for Trelawny Northern, Tova Hamilton, said the occasion was a “testament to our shared commitment to improving the well-being of our community and ensuring access to essential services for all. I am proud that I was able to champion this cause”.

The project also included the installation of benches for patients and upgrading of lighting fixtures.

The facility caters to some 60 patients weekly.