Health Ministry Prices Repairs for 100 Hurricane-Damaged Health Centres

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is nearing completion of assessments needed to determine renovation costs for health centres damaged by Hurricane Melissa.

Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton said roughly 100 facilities are receiving priority across the five parishes hardest hit: St. Elizabeth, Trelawny, Hanover, Westmoreland and St. James.

Engineers are conducting inspections and preparing estimates, including fieldwork at facilities in St. Elizabeth. Tufton said the ministry expects to have a clearer picture of the required expenditure within about a month, allowing more extensive repairs to begin.

He gave the update on Thursday, July 9, during the reopening of Craighead Health Centre in Manchester. The facility was upgraded for $45.6 million through Operation REFRESH.

Renovations at Craighead included repairing the roof, fitting modern doors and windows, adding air-conditioning units and installing solar panels to improve energy efficiency. The project also covered floor tiling, furnishings and improved bathroom amenities for employees and patients.

A former staff cottage was converted into additional clinical space and strengthened with concrete walls. Security improvements included fencing the property, while a new parking area with 20 spaces was constructed.

Operation REFRESH is a Health Ministry initiative financed by the National Health Fund. It is intended to rehabilitate health centres throughout Jamaica by improving their appearance, operations and the experience provided to users.

Tufton said implementation is at an advanced stage, with nearly one upgraded facility reopening each week.

Alongside Operation REFRESH, the ministry is pursuing major upgrades to selected facilities through the Health System Strengthening Programme. Tufton said centres in Old Harbour, St. Jago and Portmore are among those scheduled to open.