Western St. Mary schools and clinics gets boost

PORT ANTONIO — Delivery of healthcare and education in Western St. Mary has been boosted with the recent presentation of medical supplies and computer modems to health centres and schools in the constituency.

The medical supplies, including wheelchairs, walkers, mattresses and blood pressure machines, were procured from Jamaicans living in Canada, while the computer modems were donated by Member of Parliament for the constituency, Hon. Robert Montague.

The medical supplies will be distributed to health clinics in the constituency, while the schools to benefit from the modems include, Woodside All Age Ramble All Age, Seafield Primary and Free Hill Primary.

The supplies were handed over by Mr. Montague, who is also Minister of State for Local Government, at the Retreat Health Clinic on Friday (May 6).

Attending were representatives of several organizations, including the St. Mary Health Department, The North Eastern Regional Health Authority (NEHRA), the St. Mary Parish Council and various schools in the area.

Mr. Montague said he was happy to be associated with the event, as it represented a major milestone in the processes of healthcare and education in St. Mary. He said the presentation of the supplies was the realization of a commitment he had made, to provide assistance to schools and health centres in the constituency.

He also gave an assurance that he will continue to work for the development of healthcare and education in the communities.

He said that the presentation of the computer modems will complete the list of institutions targeted for internet service in the constituency. The assistance programme, through which the medical supplies have been provided, has already brought significant benefits to the St. Mary Infirmary, the original target. 

Declaring that internet service will significantly enhance the quality of education in the schools, Mr. Montague said that service will go a far way in guaranteeing the success of a programme recently developed by a number of communities in the constituency, through which community members combine their efforts to work with schools to monitor the performance of students to assist them in achieving academic success. 

Stressing that education has to be the foundation for the further social and economic development, Mr. Montague said Western St. Mary was fully committed to ensuring that the sector continues to play its role. He added that over 120 tertiary level scholarships, and assistance to over 3,000 primary school students, were recently issued in the constituency.

By ASTON G. BAILEY, PORT ANTONIO REGIONAL