Upgraded Health Facility Opens in St. Thomas

Scores of persons in Golden Grove, St. Thomas, and sections of the neighbouring parish of Portland, now have access to the vastly upgraded Isaac Barrant health facility.

With this upgrading, the facility has been promoted to one of four Centres of Excellence spread across the island. Infrastructural work was done at a cost of $32 million, financed by the National Health Fund (NHF).

Improvement work carried out included a new and expanded waiting area, an equipped dental department, a blood laboratory, staff and patient bathrooms, air conditioning and fencing of the compound.

Speaking at the official opening on May 15, Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, emphasized that the investment in health centres is geared at ensuring that communities have well equipped health care facilities to detect and provide early treatment before health conditions worsen, as the hospitals must be allowed to deal with cases requiring expertise.

“The foundation of a good health system begins at the primary health care level. Being able to access quality care at the primary level, will reduce the burden on our hospitals and enable our doctors and other specialists to focus their energy on the persons who really need their expertise,” the Minister emphasized.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ferguson urged the health care professionals to perform their role with sensitivity to every person who utilizes the public health system. He also called on the communities to make all the health facilities their own, by not destroying them.

The other three Centres of Excellence are located in Darliston, Westmoreland; Santa Cruz, in St. Elizabeth, and Claremont, in St. Ann.