109 clinics up for adoption
The Ministry of Health and Wellness’ (MOHW) Adopta- Clinic programme is gaining traction, particularly among the diaspora in the United States, which has adopted several clinics across the island.
Data from the MOHW noted that there are 109 clinics up for adoption, and of that total, 36 are now fully adopted.
Members of the Jamaican diaspora in the United States have, so far, adopted 15 of these clinics and have spent a total of $43 million upgrading and providing various equipment for these primary-care institutions.
Among the clinics adopted are Cascade in Hanover, Adelphi in St James, Steer Town in St Ann, Ulster Spring in Trelawny, Islington in St Mary and Lambs River in Westmoreland.
Health and Wellness Minister
Dr Christopher Tufton told members of the diaspora on the online discussion programme ‘Let’s Connect with Ambassador Marks’, last Thursday, that he was pleased with the support given to the programme by diaspora organisations as well as individuals “who have come on board to adopt our primary healthcare services”.
“The intention of the Adopta- Clinic programme is to get Jamaicans at home and abroad who have benefited from our primary healthcare services to give back,” Dr Tufton explained.
“We have a strong primary healthcare system that has worked for us as a country. It is what has helped us in the COVID-19 pandemic response. As minister of health, I am asking members of the diaspora to join hands and hearts with the ministry by adopting a clinic,” he added.
Oshawny McNabb, 23, otherwise called Ackeem, a labourer of Quarry Heights, Papine in St Andrew, has been arrested and charged with the murder of Kamar Palmer, who was shot and killed in Ferguson Square, Delacree Park in Kingston 11, on December 31.
Reports from the Hunts Bay Police are that about 9 p.m., Palmer was standing at the mentioned location when he was approached by McNabb, who was in the company of another man, who has been charged in relation to the same incident.
In the meantime, a teen has been arrested and charged following the stabbing death of 16-year-old Damanick Deer, otherwise called ‘Pappa Bear’, of McIntyre Villa in Kingston 16 last Friday.
The police said that Damanick and the teen had a dispute during which a knife was used to stab him.
The police were alerted and he was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. The teen was taken into custody.