Minister for Grand Bahama, Dr. the Honourable Michael Darville, who heads the Government’s clinic renovation initiative traveled with Managing Director of the Public Hospitals Authority Mr. Herbert Brown and Administrator of Community Health Services in the Department of Public Health Ms. Charlene Bain and a team of officials from the Public Hospitals Authority and the Department of Public Health traveled to celebrate the agreements on site at the clinics in brief signing ceremonies on Wednesday, March 22nd.
The renovation works at the Spanish Wells Clinic will entail the general refurbishment and expansion of the clinic, inclusive of repairs to lighting fixtures and A/C supply and return grills in the lobby, registration and pharmacy areas. Repairs will also be conducted in the examination, triage and emergency areas of the clinic. Significant works will be carried out to repair and improve the exterior and roof of the clinic. The contract for the Spanish Wells Clinic is valued at just under two hundred ninety three thousand dollars ($293,000), and has been awarded to the St. Georges Cay Construction Company.
Renovation works at the Harbour Island Community Clinic will entail the full refurbishment of the clinic inclusive of repair or replacement of ceilings, light fixtures and A/C supply and return grills for the lobby, registration and pharmacy areas. Patient and public restrooms will be upgraded to ensure handicap accessibility, and significant works will be undertaken to upgrade the dental area. New modern examination, treatment, laboratory, pharmacy and storage areas will also be created. The estimated value for the Harbour Island Community Clinic renovation is approximately three hundred twenty five thousand dollars ($325,000), and has been awarded to Higgs Construction Ltd.
Minister Darville spoke to residents noting, “The public should rest assured that healthcare in the Bahamas is very much on the move, and the improvements to our clinics will translate into improvements in the patient experience throughout our public health system.” He described the process which is occurring at clinics across the country as historic and “clear evidence of the Government’s commitment to upgrade and renovate health facilities across the nation to a standard that allows us to deliver universal primary care.”
The contracts are the latest in a series of agreements targeting public health facilities in New Providence and the Family Islands for significant infrastructural improvements ahead of the National Health Insurance primary care roll-out. PHA Managing Director Herbert Brown said for the Authority’s part they are focused on ensuring that the significant works – much of which is being provided by the Capital Development Team of the PHA, “provides for efficiencies in the delivery of service and a high standard of care to residents.”
On Tuesday, March 21st, contracts valued at approximately $800,000 were executed for significant renovations at the South Beach Health Centre and the Flamingo Gardens Clinic. This followed the execution of contracts valued at approximately $1.2 million for the renovation community clinics in Acklins, Crooked Island, Inagua and Mayaguana earlier this month.
Source: BIS
