RESIDENTS of Morant Bay and surrounding communities are to benefit from significant improvement in health services through renovation of the health centre located in the St Thomas capital.

The $32.7-million project, which is being financed by the Sugar Transformation Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, is expected to be completed in another three to four months.

To be undertaken by C and D Construction and Engineering Limited, the project involves concrete works, electrical installation, walling and masonry, installation of finishes, carpentry, tiling, plumbing, exterior works, installation of windows and doors.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the project last Thursday Minister of Health Dr Fenton Ferguson said the initiative “is another positive development for health and for the parish of St Thomas”.

He noted that the undertaking is part of the Government’s overall strategy to improve access to quality health services for Jamaicans under the Primary Care Infrastructure Renewal Programme.

He informed that over $660 million has been spent under the programme since 2012, to build, refurbish, and expanded some 129 facilities, including the establishment of four centres of excellence for primary health care.

He noted that the work to improve primary health care greatly “ease the pressure” on the secondary health care system.

The Morant Bay Health Centre is a type IV facility, which serves about 2,763 patients per month addressing family planning, curative, maternal and child health, dental, sexually transmitted infection (STI) lab, nutrition and environmental health.

The improved facility will benefit the various communities that it serves such as Morant Bay, Lyssons, Retreat, Prospect, Dumfries, Spring Garden, Johnson Town, and Wilmington.