SANDY BAY, Hanover - THE Sandy Bay Health Centre in Hanover is being rehabilitated at a cost of

$21 million.

Last Thursday, the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) and the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), signed a contract on the grounds of the facility for the multimillion-dollar project.

Work on the four-month project, includes rehabilitation of bathrooms with the provision of rails for the physically challenged; replacement of roof; replacement of windows and doors; electrical and plumbing installations; painting of interior and exterior walls; paving of walkway; provision of equipment cupboards; and the rehabilitation of perimeter chain link fencing.

Advisor to the Minister of Health Hurley Taylor, in his remarks at the signing ceremony, stated that improving primary health care is a central plank of the Government's health care programme.

"The truth is that ...if we were to do certain things well, and do them consistently (at the primary level), we would reduce our attendance

at the secondary health facilities," he argued.

Turning to the issue of tobacco smoking, Taylor said the Government is committed to enacting legislation to prevent smoking in public spaces.

"I want to make it abundantly clear that the administration is not going to outlaw smoking, what it is saying is that, if you choose to smoke, do not do it in a public place, where you put at severe risk, those who choose not to smoke," he stated.

JSIF representative Celia Dillon, stated that the Sandy Bay Health Centre was prioritised for improvement based on a number of factors. These, she said, include: its location; the fact that it is a Type II facility; which offers a range of services and the number of communities that it serves.

"With such a wide range of services, the optimal use of the facility contributes directly to the attainment of one of our Millennium Development Goals, which includes the reduction of child mortality and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases," she pointed out.

Funding for the project was provided by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).