ST JAMES, Jamaica— The Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA) has announced the reopening of the Catherine Hall Health Centre in St James following the completion of rehabilitation works due to significant damage sustained during the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

The reopening represents another significant milestone in the authority’s ongoing recovery and restoration efforts across the western region.

Since the hurricane, the WRHA has worked diligently to restore healthcare services, repair damaged facilities, strengthen infrastructure, and ensure continued access to care for residents throughout St James, Hanover, Trelawny and Westmoreland.

While Hurricane Melissa disrupted operations at several health facilities across the region, the authority implemented contingency measures to maintain essential healthcare services and has steadily advanced rehabilitation works to return facilities to full operation.

The Catherine Hall Health Centre serves thousands of residents annually and provides a wide range of primary healthcare services. These include medical services, wound care, maternal
and child health, pharmacy services, family planning and adolescent health services.

Parish Manager for St James Health Services Lennox Wallace, welcomed the reopening and highlighted the significance of the achievement.

“The reopening of the Catherine Hall Health Centre is a testament to the resilience of our healthcare system and the commitment of the Western Regional Health Authority to restoring services for the communities we serve.

Hurricane Melissa presented significant challenges, but through collaboration, determination and the support of our stakeholders, we have continued to rebuild stronger. We are delighted to once
again welcome patients back to this facility and reaffirm our commitment to providing quality healthcare services to the people of Catherine Hall and surrounding communities,” said Lennox Wallace.

Since the passage of Hurricane Melissa, the WRHA has undertaken extensive recovery initiatives across the region, including repairs to health facilities, restoration of essential services, infrastructure improvements and the deployment of temporary arrangements to ensure continuity of care. These efforts have enabled residents to continue accessing healthcare services while permanent restoration works progressed.

Acting Regional Director Deveta McLaren, noted that the reopening underscores the authority’s commitment to building a more resilient healthcare system.

“The reopening of the Catherine Hall Health Centre is another important step in our region-wide recovery journey. We remain focused on restoring and enhancing our facilities while ensuring that our communities continue to receive the quality healthcare services they deserve. Our recovery efforts have not only been about repairing buildings, but also about strengthening our capacity to respond and serve during times of challenge,” she said.

Residents are encouraged to utilise the services available at the Catherine Hall Health Centre and continue prioritising preventive healthcare and wellness.