KINGSTON, Jamaica: The Ministry of Health and Wellness, through the Health Systems Strengthening Programme (HSSP), yesterday broke ground for the expansion and renovation of the St. Jago Park Comprehensive Health Centre in St Catherine, which is expected to cost just over JM$700 million.
This follows the groundbreaking for the construction of a brand new comprehensive Health Centre in Old Harbour a few weeks ago to the tune of just under one billion dollars, and the 5.5 billion dollars being invested in the new six-story building at Spanish Town Hospital. The ministry also plans to break ground for the expansion of the Greater Portmore Comprehensive Health Centre, also in the parish, before the end of the year.
Speaking at the contract signing and groundbreaking event yesterday, Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton emphasised that the new building and renovations at St Jago Park are part of a 10 billion dollar investment in St Catherine’s health services.
“We are now closing the loop with the expansion of the hospital, with the ground-breaking for expansions at the surrounding major health centres, and the electronic health records system, e-Care, that is now being used in the hospital and the health centres,” Tufton said. “We also have a police post here, and we’re enhancing a vector control building at the back, which have both also been unveiled today. Essentially, we are realising the vision and the plan that we have.
“St Catherine is benefitting from a US$65 million investment in its health infrastructure, which is the largest government project in this parish in a very long time,” the minister said. The infrastructure upgrades and electronic health records system implementation are being carried out through the Health Systems Strengthening Programme (HSSP).
Once completed, the upgraded St Jago Park Comprehensive Health Centre will offer expanded services, including dentistry, mental health care, diabetic retinopathy screening, and laboratory services. These improvements are expected to address chronic illnesses and emerging healthcare demands in the parish. An average of 6600 Jamaicans currently use the St Jago Park Comprehensive Health centre on a monthly basis.
HSSP Programme Manager, Mr. Orette Clarke, said: “Today’s groundbreaking represents
another step in our shared vision of a stronger healthcare system. Following the historic
groundbreaking of the Old Harbour Comprehensive Health Centre, this expansion
demonstrates our ongoing commitment to improving access and quality of care.
Together, these projects will provide better healthcare outcomes for the people of St.
Catherine and beyond.”
The project cost of approximately JM $704 million is being funded primarily by the European Union’s USD10 million investment grant into the HSSP. The expansion is expected to be completed within 14 months on groundbreaking, with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation leading the construction.
Piotr Byczkowski, First Counsellor/Deputy Head of Mission, delegation of the European Union to Jamaica, Belize, The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and The Cayman Island expressed, “The development of the St Jago Park Health Centre isn’t just about expanding the facilities, it’s about life. It’s about ensuring that every Jamaican, no matter who they are, or where they live, can access the care they need, when they need it. We have seen what is possible when we join forces and Minister Tufton and our partners at the Inter-American Development Bank have been instrumental in driving this vison forward.”
The HSSP was launched in 2018 to address non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and improve healthcare infrastructure across Jamaica. The programme is supported by a US $50 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), USD $87 million in funding from the Government of Jamaica, and the European Union’s USD $10 million grant.
A total of 13 facilities – three hospitals and ten health centres – across the island are benefitting from enhanced infrastructure, information systems and improved processes under the HSSP, which is expected to run until 2029.