KINGSTON, Jamaica: The Ministry of Health and Wellness, through the Health Systems
Strengthening Programme (HSSP), yesterday broke ground for the expansion and
renovation of the St. Jago Park Comprehensive Health Centre in St Catherine, which is
expected to cost just over JM$700 million.
This follows the groundbreaking for the construction of a brand new comprehensive
Health Centre in Old Harbour a few weeks ago to the tune of just under one billion
dollars, and the 5.5 billion dollars being invested in the new six-story building at Spanish
Town Hospital. The ministry also plans th break ground for the expansion of the Greater
Portmore Comprehensive Health Centre, also in the parish, before the end of the year.
Speaking at the contract signing and groundbreaking event yesterday, Minister Tufton
emphasised that the new building and renovations at St Jago Park are part of a 10 billion
dollar investment in St Catherine’s health services.
“We are now closing the loop with the expansion of the hospital, with the ground-
breaking for expansions at the surrounding major health centres, and the electronic health
records system, e-Care, that is now being used in the hospital and the health centres,”
Tufton said. “We also have a police post here, and we’re enhancing a vector control
building at the back, which have both also been unveiled today. Essentially, we are
realising the vision and the plan that we have.
“St Catherine is benefitting from a US$65 million investment in its health infrastructure,
which is the largest government project in this parish in a very long time,” the minister
said. The infrastructure upgrades and electronic health records system implementation
are being carried out through the Health Systems Strengthening Programme (HSSP).
Once completed, the upgraded St Jago Park Comprehensive Health Centre will offer
expanded services, including dentistry, mental health care, diabetic retinopathy
screening, and laboratory services. These improvements are expected to address chronic
illnesses and emerging healthcare demands in the parish. An average of 6600 Jamaicans
currently use the St Jago Park
Comprehensive Health centre on a monthly basis.
HSSP Programme Manager, Mr. Orette Clarke, said:“Today’s groundbreaking represents
another step in our shared vision of a stronger healthcare system. Following the historic
groundbreaking of the Old Harbour Comprehensive Health Centre, this expansion
demonstrates our ongoing commitment to improving access and quality of care.
Together, these projects will provide better healthcare outcomes for the people of St.
Catherine and beyond.”
The project cost of approximately JM $704 million is being funded primarily by the
European Union’s USD10 million investment grant into the HSSP. The expansion is
expected to be completed within 14 months on groundbreaking, with China Civil
Engineering Construction Corporation leading the construction.
Piotr Byczkowski, First Counsellor/Deputy Head of Mission, delegation of the European
Union to Jamaica, Belize, The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and The Cayman Island
expressed, “The development of the St Jago Park Health Centre isn’t just about expanding
the facilities, it’s about life. It’s about ensuring that every Jamaican, no matter who they
are, or where they live, can access the care they need, when they need it. We have seen
what is possible when we join forces and Minister Tufton and our partners at the Inter-
American Development Bank have been instrumental in driving this vison forward.”
The HSSP was launched in 2018 to address non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and
improve healthcare infrastructure across Jamaica. The programme is supported by a US
$50 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), USD $87 million in
funding from the Government of Jamaica, and the European Union’s USD $10 million
grant.
A total of 13 facilities – three hospitals and ten health centres – across the island are
benefitting from enhanced infrastructure, information systems and improved processes
under the HSSP, which is expected to run until 2029.
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