Kingston, Jamaica, July 22, 2023 (PAHO/WHO) The health care system in central Jamaica has received a much-needed boost following the upgrading and retrofitting of the Mandeville Comprehensive Health Centre under the ‘Smart Health Care Facilities in the Caribbean Project.’ The upgrades, totaling USD 1,660,761.03, were funded by UK aid through the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and implemented by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
The facility was officially handed over to the Ministry of Health and Wellness during a ceremony held recently on the grounds of the Mandeville Comprehensive Health Centre. Twelve health centres in Jamaica have been retrofitted and upgraded to become safer, greener, and more resilient to natural disasters and climate change. Mandeville Health Centre is the 11th facility to be handed-over.
The upgraded Mandeville Comprehensive Health Centre is one of four facilities to meet the gold project standard. Safety improvements include repairing or replacing damaged roofs, installing doors and hurricane-rated windows, and implementing a backup energy system to ensure a reliable power supply.
In keeping with its mandate to make the facility greener, a rainwater harvesting system with above and underground tanks and improved storm water drainage is now in place. This initiative is significant due to the town's historical issues with water scarcity. Mandeville is over 2000 ft above sea level, making it challenging to pipe water from its chief source, located at a low altitude.
During the handover ceremony, Dr. Serene Joseph, the acting PAHO/WHO Representative (Jamaica, Bermuda, and the Cayman Islands), expressed appreciation to UK aid for its significant investment in helping to make the healthcare system more resilient. Emphasizing the designation of the facility as a “smart” facility, she noted that the upgrades would not only improve its operational efficiency but also optimize the utilization of resources, thereby enabling comprehensive and equitable care for all patients in a sustainable manner.
In his remarks, Mr. Malcolm Geere, Caribbean Development Director, Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, noted, “This partnership has seen us embark on a journey together to tackle the challenge of climate change. Natural disasters are increasing in frequency and impact, and it’s important that, after a natural disaster, services are restored quickly and efficiently.” He further emphasized that the Mandeville Health Centre can now withstand a Category 5 storm, as well as severe flooding.
Her Excellency Judith Slater, the British High Commissioner to Jamaica, said she was happy to be at the ceremony to witness the transformation of the health centre. The facility, she noted, was upgraded through the allocation of £8.5 million to Jamaica through the Smart Health Care Facilities Project to renovate 12 health facilities.
She also reiterated the UK's support for Jamaica's endeavors in reducing the vulnerability of crucial public buildings to disasters and enhancing the country's climate resilience.
Keynote speaker Dr. the Honourable Christopher Tufton, Minister of Health and Wellness, noted that infrastructure development and resilience are a priority of the Ministry of Health and Wellness. The minister explained that retrofitting health facilities under the Smart Health Care Facilities Project is a key component of the overall plans to build out the island’s public health infrastructure.
“The collaboration with UK aid and PAHO/WHO, has been both significant and fruitful, providing us with a foundation from which we can build to make even more of our facilities climate-resilient,” the Minister explained.
The Smart Health Care Facilities Project is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the UK Government (formerly Department for International Development (DFID)) and implemented by PAHO, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Jamaica.
