MONTEGO BAY, St James — Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton says the Government has spent more than $200 million to improve health centres or clinics across St James since he took office seven years ago.

“The truth is, our health centres have been doing better over time. This is not a political environment, but I am a politician and I’m proud to say that under this Administration we have seen significant improvements in our health centres here in the parish of St James, and Montego Bay in particular,” Tufton said last Friday during a ceremony to mark Petrojam Limited’s adoption of Montego Bay Comprehensive Health Centre.

The agreement, made under the Adopt-A-Clinic Programme, will see Petrojam donating $1 million per year over the next three years to meet the clinic’s infrastructural and equipment needs.

During his speech, Tufton listed facilities across the parish that, he said, have benefited from millions of dollars being pumped into the system by the Government. He said that $51 million had been spent in 2019 to build the soon-to-be-officially-opened Adelphi Health Centre; another $56 million was spent on Catherine Hall Health Centre in 2020, and $47 million each on the Barnett Town, Flankers, and Granville health centres “Just to name a few”.

“So, over the last couple of years, we have been building some health centres… and we have more to do. So, sometimes the narrative is around Cornwall [Regional Hospital] and I know it is a more exciting coverage for the media space and all the problems that are taking place. Some of them are not really real but in perception, they look [significant] and they make headlines,” the minister added.

He also spoke of the importance of recognising the hard work being done by employees within the health care sector.

“Sometimes they’re not recognised sufficiently… The adoption helps that process because it shows that those who are coming and playing their role appreciate the work of primary health care. And I want to say ditto to that. I appreciate that work,” assured Tufton.

The minister, who took office in 2016, has received mixed reviews from the public for his handling of the problem-plagued Cornwall Regional Hospital rehabilitation project. On Friday he was staunchly and enthusiastically defended by St James Health Services Parish Manager Lennox Wallace.

Wallace also thanked the St James Municipal Corporation and the Member of Parliament for St James Central Heroy Clarke for the support they have given the health department over the years.

“Salt Spring Health Centre, $11.2 million; Glendevon, $9.2 million; and Green Pond Health Centre, $7.5 million: this is the work that this member of parliament has done to assist,” stated Wallace, who pointed out that no other parish in the western region has received the kind of assistance St James has.

The four parishes that fall under the purview of the Western Regional Health Authority are Westmoreland, St James, Trelawny, and Hanover.