Smart health facilities triumph over Hurricane Beryl

THE RECENT passage of Hurricane Beryl not only put Jamaica’s infrastructure to the test but also provided a critical examination of the island’s Smart Health Centres, particularly those in the hard-hit southern parishes which bore the brunt of the Category 4 storm’s destructive force.

Hurricane Beryl provided a defining moment for the Mandeville and Santa Cruz health centres, which were two of the four facilities upgraded to ‘gold standard’ under the Strengthening Healthcare Facilities in the Caribbean (Smart Hospitals Programme Phase 2).

Notably, preliminary assessments conducted after the storm revealed minimal damage to both health centres. The US$12 million project in Jamaica, funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office and implemented by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, involved comprehensive enhancements to four health centres and notable improvements to eight others aimed at bolstering their resilience.

The Smart Hospitals Programme Phase 2 undertook upgrades to buildings and roofs, installed shutters, and implemented green technology systems such as solar systems, rainwater harvesting, and LED lighting. These upgrades also included safety improvements such as reinforced structural connections, new doors, and hurricane shutters.

Additionally, systems for efficient cooling, ventilation, waste management, improved drainage, and a photovoltaic system for backup power and water during emergencies were incorporated. Functional improvements expanded patient waiting areas, installed emergency exits, and improved disabled access ramps.

The UK’s International Development Strategy places development at the heart of the UK’s foreign policy. It sets out a new approach to development, anchored in long-term partnerships tailored to the needs of the countries they work with, built on mutual accountability and transparency.

This approach goes beyond aid and brings the combined power of the UK’s global economic, scientific, security and diplomatic strengths to their development partnerships. Their four priorities are to deliver honest, reliable investment, provide women and girls with the freedom they need to succeed, step up our life-saving humanitarian work, and take forward their work on climate change, nature and global health.

Sandia Ferguson, parish manager for Manchester Health Services, noted that while the facility was not significantly damaged, there were minor leaks in two areas, as well as the administrative building. She especially praised the photovoltaic system, which operated continuously during power outages and provided valuable support for clinical services to the people of Mandeville and surrounding communities and the functioning of the parish’s Health Emergency Operations Centre.

“Having weathered the storm, these Smart Health Centres underscore the necessity of robust healthcare infrastructure in regions vulnerable to natural disasters. The Smart facilities serve as a model for adaptation, essential in strengthening and safeguarding public health systems amid climate uncertainty,” said Ian Stein, PAHO/WHO Jamaica representative.

Additionally, PAHO has hired and deployed three specialised consultant engineers who are currently evaluating the building infrastructure, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, along with the water, sanitation, and hygiene elements, at 16 healthcare facilities across the island.

For her part, Judith Slater, British High Commissioner to Jamaica, said, “I was heartened, but not surprised, to learn that the Mandeville and Santa Cruz ‘Smart’ health centres withstood Hurricane Beryl’s worst to emerge with minimal damage. And, that these centres have been able to serve their surrounding communities, as normal, since the storm. This is a solid example of why it is important to make these long-term, sustainable investments in infrastructure and I’m proud the UK was able to fund this vital initiative.”

The Smart Health Care Facilities Project serves as a blueprint for effective disaster and climate resilience infrastructure. Integrating resilient design standards into the health sector reflects a broader effort to mitigate disruptions and ensure continuity in healthcare services during emergencies.

The project exemplifies how targeted infrastructure improvements can enhance the capacity of healthcare systems to withstand and recover from natural disasters, ensuring that communities continue to receive essential services even in the face of severe weather events.

The Pan American Health Organization works with the countries of the Americas to improve the health and quality of life of its population. Founded in 1902, it is the world’s oldest international public health agency. It serves as the regional office of WHO for the Americas and is the specialised health agency of the Inter-American system.

SOURCE: Pan American Health Organization; UK’s International Development Strategy.