ACCULAB Diagnostic Centre gets official in MoBay
Published:Monday | September 2, 2024 | 12:06 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Montego Bay is now home to a new diagnostic medical facility, the ACCULAB Diagnostic Centre, where services are geared toward providing efficient and timely screening of patients, combining modern technology, high-quality business and top-class customer service.
The ACCULAB Centre, located at Bogue City Centre in the western city, was formally launched last Thursday, though it has been in operation since 2022. It is a successor facility to the neighbouring Sekhmet Medical Centre, which was founded in 2019.
Dr Jodine Jackto-Tafari, the founder of ACCULAB and Sekhmet Medical Centre, told Thursday’s launch that she was inspired to open ACCULAB during the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to widen her reach to Jamaicans in need of medical care.
“Five years ago, I opened the doors to Sekhmet Medical Centre, which has served western Jamaica and has been a source of rescue for many corporate persons and their businesses. However, I felt like my reach to the Jamaican people would have been limited, and I really did not know how I would scale it, as I do not believe in multiple practices and stretched-thin health care,” said Jackto-Tafari.
“Two years in the pandemic, I found the solution, that I could offer laboratory services that could scale across the country, in which I would infuse the culture of service along with modern business practices and modern medical technology, setting the bar for others to follow. So far, it is working, it is a genius idea,” said Jackto-Tafari.
ACCULAB offers routine lab testing to include kidney and liver tests and diabetes screening, along with HIV and COVID-19 screening, haematology or blood testing, allergy testing, and DNA and paternity testing. Last September, the facility added Mpox [formerly monkeypox] screening to its list of services.
Jackto-Tafari said that part of ACCULAB’s mission is to close the gaps she has seen while working in Jamaica’s healthcare system, particularly the turnaround time for patients to get lab results.
“A gigantic reason why healthcare fails in Jamaica sometimes is due to the inadequacies of the diagnostic services, whether it be quality of testing or turnaround time. I remember being in the hospital system, and seeing many curable or treatable patients who, one year later, would not have gotten their treatment because the results came late. Our patients are losing lives, and our doctors are losing hope and motivation,” said Jackto-Tafari.
Oral Heaven, the president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI), praised ACCULAB for its contribution to Montego Bay’s healthcare landscape.
“I believe that by working together, we can create a healthier future for Montego Bay. This is a new addition to our city, one that we welcome, and one that we look forward to see serving the public, and we are indeed grateful for that. On behalf of the MBCCI, I really congratulate you on this establishment and wish you all the best,” said Heaven.