Health Ministry rolls out 'combo deal' involving three projects

The People's Partnership promised that 2011 is the year of delivery. And the Ministry of Health is making sure it sticks to that agenda.

On Friday the Ministry of Health showed off a combo deal during a media conference at the San Fernando Hospital. 

The package entails three major projects to be undertaken in the Health sector, including facilities in San Fernando, a hospital for Chaguanas with construction starting in march and Point Fortin Hospital. Construction begins in  August for the long awaited institution.

When the Point Fortin Hospital is completed, it is expected that health care would be brought to the door steps of a sizable South and South Western population that would normally have traveled to San Fernando General Hospital to access health care.
 

At the San Fernando hospital lands are being cleared to start construction of a $2.6 billion training and housing facility for medical students of the University of the West Indies Medical.

Health Minister Therese Baptiste Cornelis, who turned the sod for the start of the project, said work will begin on February 2.

"I am extremely pleased to recognize the start of refurbishment works for the University of the West Indies (UWI) Training Facilities and Medical Students Accommodation, here on this soil, in San Fernando" she said.

She described the circumstances in the health care workforce as a chronic national disease, causing much stress like diseases tend to do.

"It weakens our health care system, proper management of this disease requires a committed national effort in several areas," stressed the Minister.

"We at the Ministry of Health believe that the Human Resources problem in the medical arena is much more than a Ministry of Health issue. You see, the management of this disease requires a committed effort directed in several areas, with the ultimate goal of taking first class health care to the people."

The facilities in San Fernando will ease the stress of UWI at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex. The Health Minister noted that the convenience of the living quarters means that students will be in a better frame of mind to study, and they will be able to achieve their ambitions personally and vocationally.

The health ministry has enlisted the support of the Ministries of Education, Science and Technology and the MP San Fernando West, Carolyn Seepersad Bachan, to help ensure delivery of these projects.