ST JAMES, Jamaica — Residents of St. James will soon benefit from the construction of four additional health centres in the parish, thanks to a $500 million investment by the National Health Fund (NHF). The new facilities, set to break ground in January 2025, will be located in Farm Heights, Norwood, Maroon Town, and New Hampton.
Parish Manager for the St. James Health Department, Lennox Wallace, made the announcement during a recent St. James Municipal Corporation meeting. In addition to the new centres, Wallace revealed that several existing health facilities across the parish will undergo critical repairs to better serve the community.
Among the facilities slated for improvements is the Mafoota Health Centre, which will receive extensive upgrades starting in January 2025. Wallace noted that the procurement process for the project has already been completed, ensuring that the much-needed work can proceed on schedule.
Repairs are also planned for health centres in Green Pond, Glendevon, Somerton, Mount Carey, Garland, and Lottery. Wallace highlighted ongoing construction at the Green Pond Health Centre, which will add five new rooms and a pharmacy to the facility, enhancing its capacity to care for local residents.
One of the most significant expansions will take place at the St. James Type V Health Centre, the main health hub for the parish. Wallace announced plans to expand the centre by acquiring the nearby Montego Bay Ice Factory property. Once finalized, the site will be developed into a five-floor administrative building, further boosting the parish’s healthcare infrastructure.
In line with the planned upgrades, the health department is increasing staff across all facilities and extending operating hours at key locations, including the Catherine Hall Health Centre, which will now close at midnight.
“There are certain days that you have to go to the health centre to see a doctor… but people don’t plan to get sick,” Wallace explained. “The ministry has created a system to employ more doctors and nurses, so any day you visit a facility, you should be able to see a doctor without delay.”
These initiatives mark a major step forward in improving healthcare accessibility and services for the residents of St. James, providing the community with modernized, well-equipped facilities and more flexible access to medical care.
