MoU signed for the upgrade of Alexandria Community Hospital
ST ANN, Jamaica — A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Friday to upgrade the Alexandria Community Hospital in St Ann.
The signing took place on the grounds of the facility and involved the Ministry of Health, North East Regional Health Authority, Patel Foundation for Global Initiatives, and Mind Body and Soul Health Ministry.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Health Horace Dalley said he is pleased that the private sector is onboard with the Government in terms of improving the public health sector.
“The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding is a good example of this kind of partnership and it will symbolically consummate the relationship that we have. We will continue to do our part as a Government to make sure that we have the types of facilities in health that can adequately serve the needs of our patients,” Minister Dalley said.
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary, Dr Kevin Harvey said while the Government and the private sector continue to make important investments in health, the role of the community is also essential.
“We have to have a tripartite arrangement involving the Government, private sector and the community. The community has to ensure that they do their part and take care of the facilities,” Dr. Harvey said. “This is just the start. We intend to have more of these public/private partnerships in health where we can come together to improve the level of care and help the community to be more productive and healthy.”
The Ministry of Health had signed a letter of intent with the Patel Foundation for Global Initiatives represented at the time by Dr Kiran Patel, Mind Body and Soul Health Ministry and the North East Regional Health Authority on October 15, 2015.
The Memorandum of Understanding is a follow-up to the letter of intent, which commits to expanding the services and quality of delivery at the Alexandria Community Hospital.
In the first phase dental services and the pharmacy facility will be upgraded. The overall objective is to ensure that the people of St Ann and its environs receive the best health care service delivery possible.
The Patel Foundation for Global Initiatives is based in Tampa Bay, Florida, and helps to fund projects in the arts, culture, health, and education. Mind Body and Soul Health Ministry is a philanthropic organisation also based in Florida.
