Gov’t to expand bed space at 4 hospitals
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Minister of Health Horace Dalley said the Government will be expanding bed space at four hospitals during the current financial year.
These are Kingston Public Hospital (KPH), Spanish Town, May Pen, and Cornwall Regional.
The minister said the undertaking is part of the Government’s patients care programme, under which the waiting area at KPH will also be improved.
He was speaking today at the official handing over of 76 semi-electric hospital beds, valued at US$57,000, at Food for the Poor’s (FFP) headquarters in Spanish Town, St. Catherine.
The beds were procured by FFP, through funding from J Wray and Nephew Limited.
The health minister expressed gratitude for the beds, which he said, will be distributed to six hospitals across the island, where the needs are greatest.
“Food for the Poor has never failed to respond to any call when there is a time of crisis and a need in Jamaica,” he said, while lauding the contribution of J. Wray and Nephew.
Meanwhile, Minister Dalley said the Government is committed to ensuring that Jamaicans have access to quality health care and is working to make improvements in all areas.
“We are going to fix the system as best as we can so that the people of Jamaica can be comfortable, and we can deliver good health care,” the Minister said.
Chairman of FFP, Andrew Mahfood, said the charity regards the health sector as crucial in its services to the population, and will always be available to contribute.
“We are confident that this donation will help to eliminate some of the challenges that currently exit in the health sector,” he said.
Corporate Affairs and Public Relations Oficer at J Wray and Nephew, Kerry-Ann Johnson, said the company was happy to collaborate with FFP to contribute to the health sector.
“We recognise the role of the private sector in investing in the areas of national development and the health sector is of paramount importance in this regard. We are pleased that the company was able to play a part by increasing the capacity of the six hospitals to cater to the needs of more patients,” Johnson said.
