The Government of the Jamaica and the People’s Republic of China will partner to build a Children’s Hospital in the Western Region. The construction of the hospital will be done on the compound of the Cornwall Regional Hospital and when completed have a 220 bed capacity and specialized services for children.
Representatives from both countries signed the exchange of letters on Monday January 9, 2017, signaling the commitment to complete the project.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister of Health, Dr. the Honourable Christopher Tufton highlighted the importance of constructing this hospital “The exchange of letters is significant as this will pave the way for the first hospital to be built since the May Pen Hospital in the 1970s and signals a major boost for our public health system, as our children will have more access to treatment and care through this facility.” Dr. Tufton stated.
The Minister also indicated that “this new hospital will become a part of the institutional capacity to enable Jamaica to meet targets set by the Millennium Development Goals, particularly as it relates to the health status of our children.”
With the construction of a Children’s Hospital in the western region, families will be able to access specialized care for their children closer to their homes and communities. Currently, Jamaica’s only Children’s Hospital is the Bustamante Hospital, which was established in 1963 with a bed capacity of 283 including 5 ICU beds.