KINGSTON, Jamaica – Member of Parliament (MP) for Manchester Central, Rhoda Moy Crawford, says significant investments have been made to improve healthcare, educational and social service facilities across the constituency.

Making her contribution to the 2023/24 State of the Constituency Debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Crawford said the Mandeville Health Centre has been retrofitted and upgraded at a cost of US$6.5 million, to now offer enhanced services with increased resilience to natural disasters.

Additionally, she said the Mandeville Regional Hospital received more than $100 million for new equipment.

The MP further noted that the renovated and expanded Broadleaf Community Health Centre now caters to 5,000 constituents. A total of $11 million was spent on that undertaking.

Crawford further advised that the new $48-million state-of-the-art female ward at the Manchester Infirmary is in full operation.

Regarding social services, she said, Manchester Central has introduced its first Victim Services Child Friendly Space, which provides a safe, calm and comfortable environment in which children who are victims of crime interact with law-enforcement officers and social services providers to receive psychosocial support.

Additionally, the MP said Manchester Central’s first state-of-the-art family court has been delivering hundreds of positive results.

Meanwhile, Crawford said the new $87.17-million Special Education Campus (Campus 2), an extension of Albion Primary School, is a game-changer for students across the constituency with special needs.

She also advised that plans are fully in motion to expand the educational facilities at Bellefield High School, Belair High School, May Day High School, Mount St Joseph High School, Manchester High School and Decarteret College.

“Through partnership with the leadership of HEART/NSTA Trust, we have managed to engage the services of Heart’s Mobile Unit to undertake recruitment, training, and on-the-spot assessments in the Bellefield, Royal Flat, Mandeville and Knockpatrick Divisions within our constituency. To date, more than 1,500 constituents have been impacted,” Crawford said

– JIS