Mayor of Montego Bay and Chairman of the St. James Municipal Corporation, Councillor Homer Davis has expressed happiness over plans to start construction of the Western Children and Adolescents Hospital on the grounds of the Cornwall Regional Hospital in the city, citing that this is a game changing move in Jamaica’s health sector.
Addressing a ceremony where ground was officially broken for work to start on the 220 bed facility on Wednesday October 23, 2019, Mayor Davis said the hospital represents another major step for Montego Bay in becoming the healthiest city in the Caribbean.
Mayor Davis said “today is a great day to be Mayor of this wonderful city of Montego Bay…a City which is on the move to becoming not just the fastest developing city in the Caribbean, but the healthiest city in the region… St. James Municipal Corporation, has been a keen supporter of this project from was first mentioned over 45 years ago. Today’s ground breaking for this children’s hospital is a clear indication that as a Government…we are putting a premium on the good health of our citizens, starting with our children”.
Montego Bay’s Mayor, Councillor Homer Davis, (left) joins Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (4th right) and other dignitaries in symbolically breaking ground for the start of construction of the Western Children and Adolescents Hospital on Wednesday October 23, 2019. Others from left are Opposition Spokesman on Health Dr. Morais Guy, National security Minister and MP for North West St. James, Dr. the Hon. Horace Chang, Attorney General and Member of Parliament for West Central St. James, Mrs. Marlene Malahoo Forte, His Excellency Tian Qi, Chinese Ambassador to Jamaica, Health Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, Head of the Pediatrics Department at the Cornwall Regional Hospital and wife of the Mayor, Dr. Carleene Grant Davis and Member of Parliament for St. James Central, Mr. Heroy Clarke.
He added that the building of this new hospital represents the realization of a dream which former Minister of Health, the late Dr. Herbert Eldermire had when he lead the process of acquiring the Mount Salem property in 1968.
Mayor Davis said “today’s ground breaking exercise is the first meaningful construction being undertaken at this hospital, since it was first opened to the public in 1974.It is still clear in our memory that it was the late Minister of Health Dr. Herbert Eldermire who led the mission to acquire this property in 1968….which resulted in the building of the Cornwall Regional Hospital. Under Dr. Eldermire’s, watch the Cornwall School of Nursing was established and a part of his vision was to build another children’s hospital to compliment the Bustamante Children’s Hospital… I know Dr. Eldermire is smiling from heaven with the ground bring broken for the building of this hospital”.
He also thanked the Chinese government for the support being given to Jamaica in all areas, particularly in the health sector in general and in making the Western Children and Adolescents Hospital a reality.
“I also want to offer commendations to our Chinese friends, headed by His Excellency His Excellency Tian Qi, Ambassador of The People's Republic of China to Jamaica for the wonderful support which the Chinese government continues to give our country. We are very thankful for the assistance that you and your government continue to give our country and I look forward to the future with great anticipation”.
Meanwhile, Mayor Davis is commending the current Health Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton for the sterling work being done by the Health Ministry at all levels, adding that he is optimistic that very soon the Cornwall regional Hospital will become the top health facility in Jamaica.
He said “we know of and understand the challenges which exist here at the Cornwall regional Hospital and as Mayor, I remain convinced that in very short order, Cornwall Regional Hospital, under Dr. Tufton’s leadership, will be returned to its former glory days, of not just being the number one health institution in Western Jamaica, but indeed number one in Jamaica”.
Mayor Davis said the Western Children and Adolescents Hospital will be a game changer in the health sector for Western Jamaica as it will not only offer the best health services, but will bring relief to persons who now travel to Kingston for specialized services.
“This Children’s hospital will be a game changer and thing of beauty…sitting here on the Mount Salem hill. The need for this children’s hospital is glaring as we all know the challenges that are faced by our citizens who from time travel to Kingston to access specialized health care for their children, especially since the scaling down of services at the Cornwall Regional Hospital. This new facility will bring relief in all areas for our young citizens from Western Jamaican”, Mayor Davis said.