CLARENDON , Jamaica — Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica along with United States donor Denise DiBiase has recently built and opened the Rock River Health Centre.

The clinic, which officially started operating on September 18 is a combination of seven FFP houses, a reception area, waiting area, restrooms for staff and patients, and examination rooms, and is expected to improve the healthcare of residents in Rock River and surrounding communities.

“On behalf of myself and my beloved husband, who is no longer with us, it has been an honour to join with Food For The Poor and the stakeholders to make this clinic happen,” DiBiase said during the opening ceremony.

Delane Bailey-Herd, FFP Senior Field Representative, explained that for many years the centre was housed in the Rock River Seventh Day Adventist Church.

She further noted that despite serious space, privacy and storage challenges, there was a heavy reliance on the facility.

“Previously, the clinic operated twice per month and catered to approximately 80 residents monthly, however, with the provision of a new space, the frequency of clinic days is expected to increase and so will the number of patients who benefit,” Herd said.

Present at the opening ceremony were Member of Parliament for Clarendon North Central Pearnel Charles Jr, representatives of FFP, Southern Regional Health Authority and Clarendon Health Services (CHS), as well as administrators of the centre and community members.

Participating in the official opening, Charles thanked donor DiBiase and FFP for their invaluable contribution. 

“It is not easy to find people volunteering their money to make others happy, as Denise (DiBiase) and her family have done in partnership with Food For The Poor,” the MP said, adding: “No government has done more for the poor than Food For The Poor”.