The Malvern Health Centre in St Elizabeth has been officially reopened following a comprehensive $54 million upgrade under the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ ‘Operation Refresh’ programme.

Portfolio Minister, Dr Christopher Tufton, reopened the facility during a ceremony on Friday (September 20).

The health centre, which now boasts just under 1,000 square feet of space, features new offices, an extended waiting area, a large records office, and dedicated spaces for public health inspectors.

Additionally, there were renovations to the windows, doors, boundary walls, and parking facilities. The building has also been outfitted with an air conditioning system, among other new fixtures and amenities, to enhance patient and staff comfort.

In addition, the roof was reinforced to bolster the health centre’s resilience against natural disasters, and transform it into a climate-resilient facility. Dr Tufton, in his remarks, described the project as “[a] journey [that] has brought results, in terms of upgrading and modernising our facility under Operation Refresh”.

He said Operation Refresh is a comprehensive initiative aimed at revitalising Jamaica’s healthcare system, by addressing longstanding deficiencies and inadequate patient services as well as modernising the provision and delivery of health services.

Dr Tufton indicated that under the initiative, approximately 100 health centres will be renovated over the next 18 months at a cost of $1 billion.

“The objective of this initiative is to enhance the attractiveness of our community health facilities,” he added. The Minister also advised that he had underscored the need for the installation of solar panels, “because we must be environmentally friendly.”

“So the team has been looking at that and is doing that in a number of [health centres]. Bathroom facilities must be in good order and the staff, who are also very critical to the facility, must also have some basic amenities,” he added.

Dr Tufton further pointed out that the programme aims to leverage Jamaica’s network of 2,200 community health aides, by empowering them to visit more communities to play a more crucial role in extending primary healthcare services. Resident of Malvern, Tanesha Smith, who expressed satisfaction with the upgrades, anticipates improved service delivery from the facility’s staff, going forward.

“This is the best thing to happen in Malvern,” she emphatically told JIS News.

Another resident, Natasha Daley, said she appreciates the enhanced appearance and functionalities of the health centre. She anticipates “a more positive environment” as a result of the renovation, and lauds the Government for investing in the community.