Jamaica – $13.9 Million Upgrade for Rowlandsfield Health Centre

By Caribbean Medical News Staff
Scores of residents of Rowlandsfield and nearby areas now have access to better healthcare delivery since a massive $13.9 million upgrade of the community health centre.
Aspects of the upgrade included an expansion of floor space and waiting area; installation of water storage facility; additional patient rooms; roofing and tiling works; providing wheelchair access; along with other general aesthetic enhancements.
In an address at the official reopening of the upgraded facility, Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, said the improvement venture is part of the Government’s overall thrust to improve primary healthcare delivery.
“We put priority on primary care because it is cheaper for people coming to primary care centres …we are of the view that when you have a health centre that is functioning properly within your district, you have great advantage over when you have to leave to go for secondary care miles away from your community,” he said.
Dr Fergusson gladly informed that in addition to the upgrade, new services will also be available to the residents. These include: family planning, maternal and child health services.
President of the Rowlandsfield Community Development Committee (CDC), Winston McDonald, said with the renovated “first class” facility, residents will no longer have to travel outside of the community for quality health care.
“It’s nice to see that people don’t have to travel all the way to Princess Margaret, so it takes some of the burden off some of the residents and neighbouring communities as well. So it’s a beautiful thing and for my community, it means a lot to us,” he said.
Simone Hall, a resident of Rowlandsfield, also lauded the upgraded facility; saying that she is thankful to have a facility that will accommodate children and senior citizens in the community.
She added: “It will benefit everyone, especially the elderly persons and persons who cannot afford it to go to Hampton Court, so it is a very good gain for this community…It’s a very good initiative because Rowlandsfield has been portrayed out there as one of the best communities and this happening has put us up more for recognition.”