Flooding affects Ocho Rios Health Centre
OCHO RIOS, St Ann — Several employees at the Ocho Health Centre, located on Graham Street, have raised concerns about flooding at the facility whenever it rains.
Employees, who spoke on anonymity, said rains this week again highlighted the need for the facility to be moved or for measures to be taken to mitigate the flooding.
“Whenever the rain falls for 10 to 15 minutes the whole yard is flooded. so no one can leave or enter the facility,” one employee told the Jamaica Observer. She said this has been happening for years.
“It’s just one entry — one way in and one way out,” she added.
Staff, said the health centre worker, asked for a walk way to be built at another side of the facility, however, the recommendation is yet to be accepted.
“We have to wait until the water recede or use garbage bags [on our feet] to enter or leave the facility,” she said.
She said, too, that in addition to the yard, the patients’ waiting area and bathroom are also flooded during heavy rain.
The employees said they were told that there have been plans for the health centre to be relocated. However, they have not heard anything about these plans recently.
“Last year we were told that there are plans for a new health centre to be built from 2018 to 2019. The year 2018 is almost out and ground has not been broken as yet,” the employee added.
They have urged the Ministry of Health to fast-track plans to have the facility relocated or put measures in place to prevent flooding.