Improvements to Health Sector Platform for Rural Development
By: , June 29, 2014The Key Point:
The Facts
- The facility, refurbished at a cost of $40.6 million, is the fourth Centre of Excellence to be opened across the island in recent months.
- Financing was provided by the National Health Fund (NHF) for the upgrading of the facility, which serves a population of some 12,000 persons in Claremont and adjoining districts.
The Full Story
Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, says the Government is using improvements in the health sector as part of the platform for rural development, and curtailing the rural/urban drift.
“Oftentimes by virtue of the absence of these facilities, (such as) schools, (and) clinics, much of our young people will move out (of rural Jamaica). Many of them never return to the parish or to the area,” he argued, while addressing the official opening ceremony for the Claremont, Health Centre of Excellence, in St. Ann.
The facility, refurbished at a cost of $40.6 million, is the fourth Centre of Excellence to be opened across the island in recent months. He emphasised that when institutions such as these are established in rural areas, they play a key role in preventing rural/urban drift.
“When you have this backed by employment possibilities…as a developing country…it puts us on the right track,” he stated. The Minister pointed out that the improvements being carried out in the health sector are direct strategies designed to provide a first class, first world health care system.
Financing was provided by the National Health Fund (NHF) for the upgrading of the facility, which serves a population of some 12,000 persons in Claremont and adjoining districts.