ST JAMES, Jamaica — Exciting developments are on the horizon for residents of St James as plans for four new health centres have been announced. This initiative, funded by the National Health Fund (NHF) with an investment of $500 million, aims to enhance healthcare access in the parish. The centres will be located in Farm Heights, Norwood, Maroon Town, and New Hampton, with construction set to begin in January 2025.
Lennox Wallace, Parish Manager for the St James Health Department, shared these updates during a recent meeting of the St James Municipal Corporation. He emphasized that the new centres are part of a broader effort to improve healthcare services in the area.
In addition to the new constructions, Wallace highlighted that repairs and upgrades are planned for existing health facilities in the parish to ensure they meet community needs. The Mafoota Health Centre, in particular, is set to undergo significant renovations. “The Mafoota Health Centre will receive much-needed work,” Wallace stated, noting that the procurement process is already complete and renovations will commence in January.
Other facilities slated for supplementary repairs include those serving Green Pond, Glendevon, Somerton, Mount Carey, Garland, and Lottery. Work is already underway at the Green Pond Health Centre, which will see the addition of five new rooms and a pharmacy.
Moreover, the St James Type V Health Centre, which acts as the parish’s health hub, will be expanded to better serve the community. Plans are also in motion for a five-floor administrative building on the nearby Montego Bay Ice Factory property, with purchasing agreements nearly finalized.
In a bid to improve service availability, the Catherine Hall Health Centre will now operate until midnight. “There are certain days when you need to visit a health centre to see a doctor, but illness often strikes unexpectedly. To address this, the ministry has initiated a program to employ more doctors and nurses. This way, anyone visiting a facility should be able to see a doctor without delay,” Wallace explained.
These enhancements reflect a commitment to advancing healthcare infrastructure in St James, ensuring that residents have access to essential services and timely medical care.
