MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Dental services at the Belllefield Health Centre have been improved following an expenditure of $6.45 million by Grey Orthodontics which covered renovation of the facility and the donation of equipment.

The Type 2 satellite clinic in the Porus Health District serves an estimated 18,000 residents across multiple communities.

The upgraded facility was reopened on Friday with a fit-for-purpose, modern dental clinic, including a new dry suction unit and compressor, partitions, clinical cabinetry and hand wash stations, two air conditioning units, a dental chair, a second chair serviced and re-installed, dental hand pieces, ultrasonic cleaner, office furniture, a portable X-ray, digital X-Ray sensor, and a laptop.

Member of Parliament for Manchester Central Rhoda Crawford and Councillor Mario Mitchell (People’s National Party, Bellefield Division), in addressing the opening ceremony at the clinic, lauded Grey Orthodontics and the Ministry of Health and Wellness for facilitating the upgrading under its Adopt-A-Clinic Programme.

“When we can offer dental services to our constituents, to the community I think it is a very big deal… This will benefit not just residents of Bellefield, but those in the wider division and the constituency in general,” said Crawford.

“The people of the community, this is for you. Help us to take care of the facilities. When you come here, don’t [destroy] anything. Sit down nicely and be respective and be appreciative,” urged Crawford.

Mitchell shared a similar sentiment in pointing to the vital role of the dental clinic.

“This is critical and it is something that is needed. I have to commend the workers who man this facility, those who man the comprehensive clinic down in Porus, because when Porus is full it is a massive amount of people who turn up, because they offer everything,” said Mitchell.

“When we offer something here in Bellefield people will come from Kendal, Shooters Hill, Pen Hill, Mizpah, Allison and those areas, and some of the people from Royal Flat [will turn up as well]… It will also help people coming from neighbouring Clarendon in the hills of Cumberland and Ritchies,” added Mitchell.

Chief Dental Officer Dr Irving McKenzie said the Ministry of Health continues to improve services at its 82 dental clinics across the country, including nine in Manchester.

“This centre here [in Bellefield] is one of the 82 we use to offer service once per week but now we are going to be up to three times per week,” said McKenzie.

For his part, Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton urged Jamaicans to utilise the dental services at clinics for check-ups annually.

“Good oral health means brushing twice a day, going to your dental clinic once a year, at least, for a check-up, for an examination, and just observing the impact of excessive sugar on the teeth,” said Tufton.