PM: Improved Healthcare Top Priority

Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer during the Five Islands Health Centre Opening and Dedication Ceremony held Monday said that the structure, which has an adjoining library, demonstrates his government’s commitment to do good for the people of this country.
The prime minister said, while on one of his regular tours of the Gray’s Farm Clinic during the re-furbishing phase, he expressed to his colleague minister Dr. Edmond Mansoor his desire to also have a health care facility in Five Islands.

Being a medical practitioner, Dr Mansoor’s interest was heightened about what plans were in store for the development of health care in this area.

His discussions centered on the cost of the project and the issues relating to securing a site for the construction of a suitable facility. “Within a matter of days, I was invited by Dr. Mansoor to visit this site where he showed me a pair of empty storage containers. After demonstrating the possibilities, I was immediately sold on the idea of retrofitting the container to become a full-scale medical facility,” he explained.

The PM added, “One of the containers is now the home of the modern computer access centre which serves the Five Islands Primary School and the people of this area. The other is the facility which stands majestically right here in Five Islands.”

He recognized Inez Richardson for quickly coming to the aid of the government in providing the land for this facility.

Special commendation also went to Novelle Henry and his team for transforming the container into the facility that will provide a remarkable service to the people of this area.

The prime minister said, “My Government is totally committed to providing the best possible healthcare to the citizens of this country. Not only are we ensuring that we have an adequate community healthcare delivery system, but we have moved to complete the Mount St. John Medical Centre to provide healthcare of an international standard to our citizens.”

In just under four years, the prime minister said they have taken the Mount St. John Medical Centre from an empty shell that the Antigua Labour Party Government had left and converted it into a modern facility with 185 beds that will provide full inpatient, diagnostic and physician services.

He continued, “do not forget ladies and gentlemen that the Antigua Labour Party tried for over ten years to have the Mount St. John’s Medical Centre facility open.”

Prime Minister Spencer while reassuring the United Progressive Party Administration’s pledge of people first to the citizenry said, “We are on the right track and heading in the right direction in the interest of the people of this country. We will ensure that the New Year means improved health care for every man, woman and child in this country. We will open the Mount St. John’s Medical Centre in our first term of office and we will continue the development of healthcare in our second term. That is a promise that will be fulfilled.”

He described the opening of the health care facility as “an historic occasion in an historic community.”

In attendance were Health Minister John Maginley and other members of Cabinet; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health John Jarvis; Representative of the American University of Antigua and nurses.

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