Over $530 million invested to upgrade SERHA health facilities

The South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) says the recent investment of over $530 million to upgrade health facilities across the parishes of Kingston and St Andrew, St Catherine and St Thomas marks a significant commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure.

“Financing from the Government of Jamaica has greatly contributed to major transformation processes aimed at expanding and modernising health facilities to meet the demands of our growing society,” SERHA said in a press release today.

The projects include:

INFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTS IN ST CATHERINE

1. The Linstead Health Centre will receive a renovation and upgrade project at a cost of $11,921,900, funded by the National Health Fund (NHF). This will include reconfiguring internal spaces, retiling, repainting, and replacing fixtures and fittings. Exterior work will feature repainting, roof repairs, fence construction, and paving.

2. The Central Village Health Centre in St Catherine, a Type I facility, has received an upgrade of $8,694,000, also funded by the NHF, to improve the aesthetics of the facility. The renovations will enhance the facility's aesthetics, including repainting, replacing fixtures, and constructing walls and a gate, benefiting approximately 4,000 residents.​

INFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTS IN ST THOMAS

1. The Port Morant Health Centre has been upgraded at a cost of $27,703,500 under Operation Refresh, a programme of the Ministry of Health and Wellness. The scope of work carried out included retiling, repainting, replacement of fixtures and fittings, and roof repairs. External work included the construction of a patient waiting area, landscaping, and paving to enhance care for 34,000 residents in the communities of Land Top, Pear Tree River, Leith Hall and Pamphret.

2. The Yallahs Health Centre, a Type III facility, will undergo completion and re-operationalisation as a modernised, fit-for-purpose facility delivering health care to over 30,000 residents. The project will be upgraded under 'Operation Refresh' at a cost of $21,779,667 funded by the NHF. The renovation will involve retiling, repainting, replacement of fixtures and fittings, and ceiling repair.

3. The project at the Rowlands Field Health Centre focused on the construction of perimeter fencing and landscaping of external space at a cost of $2 million funded by the NHF. This health centre is a Type I facility that offers child and maternal health services.

4. The newly built Arcadia Health Centre received an infrastructure makeover under 'Operation Refresh' at a cost of $6,100,000. Renovation at the Type I facility included repainting, retiling, and changing interior fixtures and fittings. Termite treatment, fence repairs, and debushing were also done to enhance care for 200 residents.

5. Additionally, the Morant Bay Health Centre, a Type IV facility, underwent a general renovation and upgrade. The renovations involved waterproofing of the existing concrete roof. This project was funded by SERHA at a cost of $4,128,450.

6. The roof replacement for the Accident and Emergency Unit at the Princess Margaret Hospital was successfully completed. The project, which involved the installation of a new timber and metal roof, was funded by SERHA at a cost of $5,345,000.

PURCHASING OF MAJOR EQUIPMENT AND RENOVATION PROJECT IN KINGSTON AND ST ANDREW

1. The supply, delivery and installation of six x-ray machines at regional hospitals: Three at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH); one at the Spanish Town Hospital; one at the Bustamante Hospital for Children; and one at the National Chest Hospital. These hospitals are now equipped with modern digital x-ray machines to improve the efficiency, speed of operation and quality of output in the process of undertaking x-rays and generating and analysing resultant imagery. The total cost for the x-ray machines is $500 million, funded by the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

2. The National Chest Hospital completed two major projects at a cost of over $9 million. The first project involved the paving works to provide a stable platform for the movement of heavy vehicles, particularly for the delivery of medical oxygen. This was done at a cost of $4,678,220, funded by SERHA. The second project involved the construction of a concrete structure to accommodate a new air compression and vacuum system to serve the hospital. This was done at a cost of $5,428,616 funded by SERHA.

“These major infrastructural upgrades in the largest regional health authority will not only improve patient experience but also empower our healthcare professionals to deliver world- class service,” SERHA said.

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