Submission to Cabinet for Primary Care Renewal Project

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, says a submission will be made to Cabinet for a primary care renewal project, as part of measures to further decrease non communicable diseases (NCDs).

Speaking at the official opening of the Rocky Point Health Centre, in Clarendon, on February 28, the Minister said the project will deal with new “configuration” to support other systems in place to fight NCDs that are a major burden on the society, and the resources of family.

The new structure was constructed and equipped at a cost of $32 million with funds from the National Health Fund (NHF). The old centre was severely damaged in 2004 by Hurricane Ivan.

Dr. Ferguson, while commending the former Health Minister, Mr. Rudyard Spencer, who is also Member of Parliament for South East Clarendon, for starting the process for the new centre, said it will provide improved care to over 3,000 residents in and around the community.

“This is a wonderful Type 2 centre that will bring great value for health care delivery in this part of Clarendon,” he said, and noted that 100 health centres have been built and upgraded with support from the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund and the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF).

“We have completed those projects, and have moved on to others. All of that is part of the move to ensure that as we go forward, we will be able to attack chronic diseases. We are working to ensure that Jamaica is on the right track,” he said.

“I call on the citizens to take care of this centre. Very soon, in a structured way, we are going to encourage the formation of management committees for health centres,” the Minister added.

The new centre provides curative, child health, maternal and antenatal care; and family planning counselling service.