KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Government is embarking on a $1-billion programme called ‘Operation Refresh’ over the next 18 months to enhance the look, feel and utility of selected health centres across the country.

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton made the disclosure during his contribution to the 2024/25 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, on Tuesday.

“We have our health centres and there is a certain perception around them. We want to transform that perception and that behaviour and so we are going to refresh our primary healthcare facilities,” the minister said.

“What this will include is improving or continuing to improve health centres that are not looking very good. We have 325 of them. We have done a lot of work on [some] of them, but we have now developed a model where we will standardise signage, colour codes, improve waiting areas for both patients and staff and ensure that our community health centres regain the credibility that they require for persons to go there, before they go to a hospital,” he added.

Dr Tufton said the second component of ‘Operation Refresh’ will be driven by community health aides.

There are approximately 2,200 of them, and they are usually the first public health point of contact at the community and home levels.

As part of the reform process, the ministry will be revising the scope and job definition of community health aides as part of the compensation review.

“You will see community health aides being more active and present at the community level,” Dr Tufton said, adding that this will include more community and home visits.

— JIS