MONTEGO BAY, St James – Chairman of the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA) Noel Donaldson says an official ceremony is to be held within the next two months to mark the renaming of the Cornwall Regional Hospital in honour of former Health Minister Dr Herbert Eldemire.

” A committee is planning the ceremony and so I believe that by the end of November we will have the function to officially rename the health facility,” Donaldson told the Observer West on Tuesday.

Nearly a year ago Daryl Vaz, the minister with responsibility for information announced that the hospital which is located in Montego Bay is to be renamed the Herbert Eldermire Hospital.

The renaming, Vaz said, will be in honour of the late Dr Herbert Eldemire who served as minister of health in Jamaica Labour Party administrations from 1962 to 1972.

“Cabinet determined that renaming the hospital in his honour would be a fitting tribute to his contribution and his works,” added Vaz.

Meanwhile Donaldson said that plans are in place to give the exterior of the buildings at the island’s largest medical facility “a proper washing and cleaning” in time for the ceremony.

Dr Eldemire who died at his home in Reading, St James in May 2010 was influential in the establishment of the hospital.

Dr Eldemire was also the chairman of the JLP from 1967 to 1972, and served as member of parliament for North West St James from 1962 to 1967. At that time he was the youngest parliamentarian in the House. He later served as MP for the neighbouring constituency of East Central St James, before retiring from active politics in 1980.

After his retirement from politics Eldemire maintained a large medical private practice in Montego Bay.

As health minister, he was also responsible for the establishment of the School of Nursing and the introduction of the National Family Planning Programme.

He was also an avid sportsman and was involved in the promotion of sports, especially boxing.