The Ministry of Health and Wellness, through the Health Systems Strengthening Programme (HSSP), has reaffirmed its commitment to improving Jamaica’s health-care system by breaking ground for the expansion of the St Jago Park Comprehensive Health Centre.

This follows the groundbreaking for the construction of a new comprehensive health centre in Old Harbour a few weeks ago, making St Catherine a focal point of Jamaica’s efforts to transform primary healthcare delivery.

Under the HSSP, a new 634-square-metre building will be constructed inside the St Jago Park Comprehensive Health Centre, along with major renovation work on the existing facility.

Once completed, the upgraded health centre will offer expanded services, including dentistry, mental health care, diabetic retinopathy screening, and laboratory services.

These improvements are expected to address chronic illnesses and emerging health-care demands in the parish. An average of 6,600 Jamaicans use the St Jago Park Comprehensive Health centre on a monthly basis.

With an investment of approximately $704 million, this expansion project is funded primarily by the European Union’s US$10-million investment grant into the HSSP.

Additional support from the Government of Jamaica will facilitate the procurement of furniture and biomedical equipment. The expansion is expected to be completed within 14 months with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation leading the construction.

This initiative is part of the wider HSSP, launched in 2018, to address non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and improve health-care infrastructure across Jamaica.

The programme is supported by a US$50-million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), US$87 million in funding from the Government of Jamaica, and the European Union’s US$10-million grant.

A total of 13 facilities — three hospitals and 10 health centres — across the island are benefiting from enhanced infrastructure, information systems and improved processes under the HSSP, which is expected to run until 2029.