MOUNT SALEM, St James — With war in the Middle East already causing disruption in global shipping routes, Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton is keeping a watchful eye on what it may mean for ongoing work on the Western Children and Adolescents Hospital (WCAH) in this western city.

“There may be some challenges now with what’s happening in the Gulf area with shipping and raw materials coming in, and that has to be assessed and determined,” Tufton told the Jamaica Observer on Monday.

His comments came on the heels of Saturday’s closure, by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, of the Strait of Hormuz, a channel used by nearly a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil supplies as well as a significant amount of cargo.

There is great anticipation of work resuming on the US$43-million WCAH, which is being funded by the Chinese Government. Work was paused as many workers returned home to celebrate Chinese New Year which began on February 17. Celebrations traditionally last 15 days.

The Lantern Festival concluded on March 3 and, assuming work resumes fully thereafter, Tufton said the hope is that previously established deadlines will be met. Work began on the project in 2017 and is slated to be completed by the end of this year.

“They have put in a request for a number of workers to come in, and we’re processing that, so we anticipate some speeding up of the process,” Tufton told the Observer.

The 220-bed facility being constructed on the Cornwall Regional Hospital grounds in Mount Salem is tailored for children and adolescents up to 18 years old.

The Government has allocated $3 billion for completion works and the purchase of machines for the WCAH in in the 2026/2027 Estimates of Expenditure tabled in the House of Representatives recently.