WJC remains committed to assist CRH - Samuels

WESTERN BUREAU:

Pastor Glen Samuels, president of the West Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventists [WJC], said his organisation remains dedicated to assisting the problem-plagued Cornwall Regional Hospital [CRH] in Montego Bay, despite the recent extension to the hospital's restoration projection by almost a year.

"We did give our commitment, and we remain committed to assist, to do whatever we can do, although it [restoration of CRH] has curtailed our operations, especially when we have large functions. We remain committed to assist," Samuels told The Gleaner last Tuesday.

The WJC currently houses a number of the CRH's departments which were relocated there in March 2017, two months after noxious fumes forced the evacuation of the 400-bed hospital's first three floors.

At that time, Samuels had announced that space would be made available at the conference centre to assist the CRH in continuing its operations, an arrangement which is still ongoing.

Last month, an independent oversight committee, which was set up by Minister of Health Dr Christopher Tufton, announced that the Mt Salem-based Type A facility should be fully rehabilitated by August 2019.

Speaking to the current impact of the CRH's relocated services on the WJC's programmes, Samuels said that while the conference has limited some of its on-site functions because of its reduced space, it will not deter the church's mandate to help.

"It is not without challenges, as our functions have been very limited in terms of the auditorium space. But in light of the fact that the people still need our help, the church stands ready to help as long as it can, in all the ways that it can," said Samuels.