The Government’s long-promised plan to establish a children’s hospital in Western Jamaica is about to become a reality with the Andrew Holness administration set to sign a deal with the Chinese Government for the Western Children’s Hospital Project.

The Ministry of Health has advised that an agreement is to be inked on Monday for the construction of the much-needed health facility.

The ministry notes that the Chinese government will be responsible for the design of the project, supplying necessary construction equipment and material.

The idea to build a children’s hospital in Western Jamaican was first mooted by former Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller who argued that another health facility is needed to serve the needs of Jamaicans in that part of the island.

Simpson Miller pointed out that many families had to travel from across the island to Kingston to access certain services at the Bustamante Hospital for Children, the country’s sole children’s hospital.

It was also noted at the time that a second children’s hospital would address the legal limitation which prohibits Bustamante Hospital  from offering care to children over the age of 12 years old.

It was envisioned at the time that the hospital would serve children up to age 18.

Source: Jamaica Gleaner