Buff Bay to get modern health centre
The days of expectant mothers travelling from Portland to other health facilities to give birth will soon come to an end. Ground was broken for the construction of a state-of-the -art health centre in Buff Bay last Friday. Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton says it will have a maternity unit.
“I want to say to you the people, this is going to mean significant improvement in our ability to provide you with health services. It is going to mean so many important things that will one day become a part of history. For example, as we move the process through to its completion, Portland people don’t have to say dem born in St Mary again. Portland people will born in Portland, because of the maternity infrastructure that we are putting in place,” Tufton said at the groundbreaking ceremony.
The project, which is financed by the National Health Fund (NHF) at a cost of $200 million, will serve over 25,000 residents. Tufton was accompanied by a team of health officials from the North East Regional Health Authority, the NHF, along with Daryl Vaz, member of parliament for West Portland.
The new facility will replace the ageing existing structure. Tufton said that when completed, it will allow for the delivery of varied services to the people of Buff Bay and its environs.
Tufton said that the culture of “waiting until you are sick” to access health services must end, as persons will have a longer life, with a better approach to their health.
“You must know that the health centre is here, use it even when you are not sick,” he stated.
The minister further said that the construction of the new health facility is as a result of persistent lobbying and representation on the part of Vaz.
“I am as pleased as he (Vaz) is today to be identified with the groundbreaking of what will be one of the most modern public health facilities in the parish of Portland,” said Tufton.
The facility, when completed, will offer varied services to the people, including dental, antenatal, postnatal, family planning, a pharmacy, child health, nutrition, family planning, lab services, environmental health, and services around communicable and non-communicable diseases.