Upgraded Santa Cruz Health Centre handed over

The upgraded and retrofitted Santa Cruz Health Centre in St Elizabeth has been officially handed over to the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

This state-of-the-art centre has been designated a “smart facility”, with the capability to respond effectively to crises while maintaining core functions during disasters and public health threats, exemplifying the ongoing efforts to fortify the country's health system.

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton, who delivered remarks at the ceremony on January 18, said that the smart facility is a clear example of the investment in people and infrastructure, adding that “the collaboration with the United Kingdom and our implementing partner, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), is a win for public health in Jamaica and a step in the right direction”.

“Infrastructural resilience remains critical, even as we face the threat of climate issues, emerging diseases and the continued dangers associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs),” the Minister continued.

He said that the Santa Cruz Health Centre being upgraded to a smart facility is another feather in the cap for St Elizabeth, noting that the parish's 23 health centres have each benefited from upgrade and development over the past five years.

“All the health centres have benefited to the tune of $450 million in total. The Black River Hospital has also benefited from $200 million in expenditure,” Tufton noted, adding that the US$1.4 million that was spent upgrading the Santa Cruz Health Centre, “means that as a parish, St Elizabeth would have seen significant development in health infrastructure over the past five years.”

- JIS News

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