OCHO RIOS, St Ann — Plagued by a mould infestation, the building being used to house Calderwood Health Centre continues to be a source of concern for Councillor Paul McFarlane (People’s National Party, Calderwood Division).

“I want an update on the situation at the Calderwood Health Centre. I know it has been reopened now so maybe they just bleach down the walls and start use it again. But the problem can’t be solved like that. They are putting band aids on the wound,” McFarlane told the parish’s Chief Public Health Officer Leroy Scott during Thursday’s monthly sitting of the St Ann Municipal Corporation.

McFarlane is of the view that a failure to promptly address the issue has made it worse. The building has been mould-infested for a number of years. When it is particularly bad, services are moved to Alexandria Health Centre.

“The nurses sometimes have to sit on the veranda of the building to do their work so as to avoid being contaminated by the mould,” the councillor groused.

He said he has, in the past, brought the issue to the attention of Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie who agreed that the problem needs to be rectified.

“When the minister did a tour of the area I spoke with him about it and that has been a while ago; and he said that the situation is not conducive for any health care,” McFarlane stressed.

The councillor also expressed concern that the physical structure of the building is deteriorating.

“The condition of the building is not the best either and it can’t withhold pressure for much longer,” he warned.

In responding to his concerns, the public health official said his team has been doing its best to minimise the effects of the mould infestation until a new health-care centre is built.

“The facility being used is one of those rented, it was not necessarily built for a health centre and the construction had faults. The problem we are experiencing is ongoing for a long time and we have tried to remedy; but with the faults of the construction it is going to be a problem. But in the meantime we will continue to take remedial measures to alleviate the challenges being caused by the mould,” said Scott.

He also told McFarlane that a section of land has already been identified in the area to build a new health centre but a date has not yet been announced for work to officially begin.

— Akera Davis