top of page
Writer's pictureSERHA

Ground broken for St.Jago Park Expansion, Signalling Additional 700million Investment into St. Catherine Healthcare Facilities

Updated: Dec 2




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 th 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 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.


8 views0 comments

Comments


© 2023 SERHA. All rights reserved. Designed by Humbird Media

bottom of page