KPH Celebrates 250 Years of Service with Year-Long Activities

Kingston Public Hospital (KPH), the largest trauma centre in the English-speaking Caribbean, will mark its 250th anniversary in 2026 with a series of national and community-focused activities.

Established in 1776, KPH has operated for two and a half centuries, standing as one of the oldest continuously functioning hospitals in the Caribbean.

Its milestone anniversary will be observed on December 14, with celebrations and commemorative initiatives beginning this month.

Speaking during a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ on Thursday (February 19), KPH Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Barrington Graham, outlined a calendar of events designed to celebrate the institution’s legacy, while engaging stakeholders and the wider public.

The first major event will be a commemorative church service on Sunday, February 22 at Kingston Parish Church, beginning 11:00 a.m. Members of the public, including former patients, staff, partners, and well-wishers, are invited to attend.

Mr. Graham noted that KPH is partnering with the Guardian Group for its annual Night Run on May 23, with the hospital selected as one of the beneficiaries of the proceeds.

In July, KPH will host a major health fair at St. William Grant Park in downtown Kingston.

The event will be staged in collaboration with several public and private-sector partners, including the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation, the National Health Fund (NHF), the Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS), and the Heart Foundation of Jamaica (HFJ).

The health fair will feature medical checks, screenings, and health education, with a strong emphasis on lifestyle modification and the prevention of chronic diseases.

As part of the anniversary celebrations and ongoing service delivery, KPH will host several international medical missions throughout the year.

In July, a team of ophthalmologists is scheduled to perform approximately 500 eye surgeries, while in September, a neurosurgical team is expected to visit to support complex surgical interventions and facilitate knowledge exchange at the facility.

“These missions not only expand access to care but also strengthen collaboration and capacity-building among our local teams,” Mr. Graham noted.

The anniversary year will conclude with a grand awards banquet in December to honour outstanding staff members, long-standing partners, and contributors who have supported the hospital’s mission over the years. Proceeds from the event will go towards priority development projects.

Individual departments will also stage their own commemorative activities under the 250th anniversary banner throughout the year.

The CEO highlighted that KPH performs more than 90,000 surgical procedures annually and treats hundreds of emergency cases daily. He added that, despite resource constraints and rising patient volumes, the hospital remains steadfast in its commitment to delivering equitable, high-quality care.

“If you are in a major accident or medical emergency, KPH will be your first port of call. We are not perfect but our dedicated team works tirelessly to ensure that every patient, regardless of background, receives the best care possible,” he added.

Mr. Graham pointed out that, “as the institution celebrates 250 years of uninterrupted service, KPH reaffirms its commitment to excellence, innovation, and compassionate care for the people of Jamaica”.