Thompson Town Health Centre Adopted By Diaspora Group
By: , May 2, 2023
Photo: Rudranath Fraser
Undersecretary for the Diaspora, Protocol and Consular Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Marsha Coore Lobban (third left) and Executive Director of Caribbean Angels Inc, Angel Barrett (fourth right), unveil the plaque for the adoption of the Thompson Town Health Centre in Clarendon by Caribbean Inc on April 28. Sharing in the occasion (from left) are Executive Director of the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ Health for Life and Wellness Foundation, Courtney Cephas; board member of Caribbean Angels Inc, Donna Thompson Forbes; Medical Officer of Health for the parish of Clarendon, Dr. Kimberly Scarlett-Campbell; Member of Parliament for Clarendon North Western, Phillip Henriques and Parish Manager for Clarendon Health Services, Joseph Grant.
Photo: Rudranath Fraser
Executive Director of Caribbean Angels Inc, Angel Barrett (sixth left) and board member of the group, Donna Thompson Forbes (fourth right), hand over a cheque to the Thompson Town Health Centre in Clarendon, during a ceremony for the official adoption of the facility, under the Adopt-A-Clinic programme, on April 28.
Photo: Rudranath Fraser
Public Health Nurse at the Thompson Town Health Centre, Carol Brown-Fuller (second left), outlines the needs of the facility to Executive Director of Caribbean Angels Inc, Angel Barrett (left). Occasion was a walkthrough of the clinic following a ceremony for the official adoption of the facility by Caribbean Angels Inc, under the Adopt-A-Clinic programme, on April 28. Looking on are board member Angels Inc, Donna Thompson Forbes (third right); Member of Parliament for Clarendon North Western, Phillip Henriques (second right) and Undersecretary for Diaspora, Protocol and Consular Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Marsha Coore Lobban.The Full Story
The Thompson Town Health Centre in Clarendon will be receiving $4 million in support over a four-year period under the Adopt-a-Clinic Programme.
Details of the support, being provided by diaspora group Caribbean Angels Inc., were announced at a formal adoption ceremony held at the public-health facility on April 28.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, in a speech delivered by Undersecretary for Diaspora, Protocol and Consular Affairs, Marsha Coore Lobban, said that the Jamaican Diaspora has been playing a key role in improving healthy delivery through the Adopt-A-Clinic programme.
Of the 43 clinics adopted over the last three years, with donor commitment of $187 million, the diaspora has adopted 70 per cent or 30 facilities, contributing $91.7 million.
Senator Johnson Smith said that the Government is “deeply appreciative of this critical investment and the strategic contributions” of the diaspora to Jamaica’s national development agenda.
“This support is of added significance as we continue to recover from the strain on our health system arising from the pandemic and other health events that we continue to battle nationally,” she added.
Executive Director of Caribbean Angels Inc, Angel Barrett, said that the group wanted to make a tangible contribution to healthcare delivery in Jamaica.
She noted that as a native of the Thompson Town community, “I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the programme”.
Member of Parliament for Clarendon North Western where the clinic is located, Phillip Henriques, said it is commendable when Jamaicans living overseas return and offer help to their communities.
“That is fantastic; it is a ray of hope and it is going to impact so many people,” he pointed out.
The Thompson Town Health Centre serves a population of 20,000 from surrounding communities with a staff complement of 12.
The facility was opened in the 1950s and is approximately 70 years old. Among the services offered are curative, antenatal, postnatal and child healthcare, home visits, nutrition, wound dressing, food handlers’ clinic and contact investigation.