CATHERINE HALL, St James — Despite a few hiccups during the $57-million project because residents hired from the area underperformed, the upgraded Catherine Hall Health Centre is now officially open.

Speaking during last Friday’s ceremony, Marlene Malahoo Forte, the Member of Parliament for St James West Central in which the facility is located, gently called out some of her constituents.

“During the process of the work, the modality is to ensure that people from the community get employment when work is being done. But sometimes members of the community who are interested in the work do not deliver as well as they should — enthusiastic as they are. I am not going to go into some of the many issues that took place while this refurbishing was happening, save and except to say to everyone, this is a community asset and it has to be protected as a community asset. Not only by the medical staff but by the entire community,” said Malahoo Forte, who is also minister of legal and constitutional affairs.

The MP also spoke of the positive impact the centre will have for her constituents who go there to seek medical care.

Among them is St James resident Jodain Senior, who was impressed by the new-look health centre. But she is hoping a few other improvements will be made to make the experience of accessing medical care there even more pleasing.

“The facility has come a far way compared to what has been here before. We have been enjoying the facility so far,” said Senior, who also complimented staff for their hard work and professionalism.

“A few more things can be done. For example, the waiting area can be upgraded more. Like under the tent, [there should be] better seating facilities; and in the waiting area, I’m seeing where they’re using fans in some areas. That could be upgraded to an AC [air conditioning] facility as well. But other than that, the facility is great,” she told the
Jamaica Observer.

She, meanwhile, recalled what it was like in the past.

“Sometimes when you come, there’s a lot of patients and sometimes you have to stand up, especially in the waiting area. The facility would be hot, especially like when you come with the kids to the clinic. At the pharmacy, [space] would not be readily available to go in. It’s different [now],” reflected Senior.

The National Health Fund did work on the Catherine Hall Health Centre under the health ministry’s Operation Refresh Programme.

The project included the addition of four consultation rooms, an isolation room, cold storage room for vaccines, offices for environmental health and other staff, lunch and conference room as well as an expanded waiting area and a reception hall. Much of the facility is also air conditioned.

Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton, who said the improvements were long in coming, anticipates that the additional consultation rooms will mean additional doctors.

“In practical terms, what that means is that you’re going to have more doctors — and privacy with the more doctors. So more people will come in and out quicker,” he predicted.

The minister said the expanded pharmacy is currently dispensing medication to almost 600 patients weekly and he also noted that the creation of a cold storage room means there will no longer be a heavy reliance on transportation of vaccines used in immunisations.

He also spoke of the importance of ensuring that all hospitals and clinics have an area where staff can relax and have their meal.

During the event, parish manager for the St James Health Department Lennox Wallace spoke about the importance of maintaining the facility. He said the team tasked with this job received a vehicle, last Thursday, which will enhance their ability to perform.

“It gives them the opportunity to visit these facilities to do inspection and ensure that the facility remains in optimum condition every time that it is opened,” explained Wallace.

Regional director for the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA) St Andrade Sinclair said the expansion and renovation not only marks the beginning of a new and improved facility but the creation of vital resources dedicated to improving and maintaining the health and well-being of Catherine Hall and surrounding communities.

“This is a momentous occasion for the western region as well as the Ministry of Health and Wellness as we forge relationships with all the stakeholders to share a common goal and that is to provide health-care services in a clean and comfortable environment,” he said.

The facility has served more than 15,000 patients since the start of the year.