Newly Refurbished health centre opens in Penville

The people of Penville and environs can now boast of a new and improved health center.

The facility which was erected many years ago has been newly refurbished and equipped with modern equipment.

Health Minister Hon. Julius timothy told the official opening ceremony of the facility last week that the developments at the Penville health centre is a demonstration of government’s commitment to improve the island’s health services and that the newly upgraded facility will provide the appropriate setting to help improve the quality of service to patients and staff both in the immediate future and for years to come.

“This registers government’s commitment to deliver quality services to all.  We believe that health is development rather than a technical abstract.  Health issues are central to matters of development because an investment in health care is a critical contributor to human development and we must be appreciative for this milestone…  All the residents of Penville must pledge to take care of the refurbished facility.”

The health minister explained that quite apart from the upgrade of several health centres in recent times, there are other clear manifestations of the current administration’s focus on health care development.

“The delivery of healthcare is amongst the key strategic priorities and concerns for us here in Dominica.  We believe that the delivery of this service is in line with the country’s policy of pushing the health agenda forward as these health issues must be dealt with at the primary or district level.  Just last week we received over two million dollars of state of the art equipment from The People’s Republic of China and were expecting another two million more from other benefactors within the next two months.  Your government is working to ensure that you receive the best in health care.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit who is also the parliamentary representative for Penville said gone are the days where the people of the community would have to travel for health care.

“Government believes the health of the nation is indeed the wealth of the nation. Without healthy people, all efforts at meeting national objectives that we hear so much about such as reducing poverty, increasing gross domestic products, foreign exchange earnings, increasing competitiveness and productivity are brought to naught. This is why we have placed considerable emphasis on making resources, human and physical available and accessible to our citizens in both towns and villages.”

He stated that the opening of the refurbished health center expresses government’s commitment to bringing to the people of Penville, a standard of quality health care that is second to none in Dominica.

“We’re also impressed with this tastefully and functionally designed facility… What is both critical and essential is the quality of care given by the health professionals to the patients who will enter or be brought through its doors.”

At the official opening ceremony, the Dominica leader highlighted a concern.  He says government is on a mission to put an end to the incidence of unnecessary referrals to the Princess Margaret Hospital.

“The matter of healthcare is not only the concern or responsibility of the healthcare professionals, equally important is the knowledge that resides in the community about the families and individuals that make it up.  I’m informed of referrals of patients to the Princess Margaret Hospital for care that could be provided at home if only those making the judgments on such referrals were better informed on the social circumstances and behaviour of family members. I have the assurance of Dr. Christmas, Director of Primary Healthcare that his mission is to restore Primary Healthcare to the level of prominence enjoyed in the 1980’s.  I am further assured that with Dr. Jacob, the District Medical Officer, working in consort with him, there will be no slippages in achieving that goal, thereby making unnecessary referrals a thing of the past.  This government is not only concerned about the physical and mental health of our people in Penville but it is also concerned about the general wellbeing of people throughout Dominica. We are therefore committed to improving the physical settings for the delivery of healthcare to ensure that we acquire the equipment needed for the delivery of quality service and to attract the human resources that would make all of this possible.”

Dr. Gerald Grell made a presentation of a refrigerator, a filing cabinet, chairs and a fan to be used at the new facility.

The new facility includes new fencing to increase security, additional space for a doctor, a casualty section, screening rooms and recovery room.

The repair, upgrade and expansion of the health facility are part of plans by the current administration to improve facilities like this one island wide.

Contract for the 215,000.00 project in Penville was signed on May 31, 2011 and was completed in December.

Eight health facilities across the island were upgraded last year.