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Government clinics being prepped for repairs

Mon, Aug 22nd 2022, 02:10 PM
Health Politics

Most of the 71 government-owned clinics have been assessed by the Ministry of Health and Wellness, paving the way for upcoming repairs.

 

Accompanied by an assessment team of engineers, quantity surveyors, healthcare
administrators and providers, Minister of Health and Wellness, the Hon. Dr.
Michael Darville, was in Grand Bahama on Wednesday, August 17 visiting clinics
and viewing firsthand what repairs were needed to make staff and clients
(patients) comfortable. Also on the tour was Minister of Social Services and
Urban Development the Hon. Obie Wilchcombe, Member of Parliament for West
Grand Bahama and Bimini.
“The Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) is responsible for the delivery of both
tertiary and primary health care. The primary health care network extends from
West End all the way to Sweetings Cay.” The Minister added, “When we look at
our Blueprint for Change, it is clearly documented where we’re heading [towards]
healthcare transformation.”
Many healthcare structures are rundown having been through Hurricane Dorian
in September 2019, followed by the global pandemic resulting in a lot of work
needed to have them properly functioning to provide the best possible service.
Minister Darville continued, “Today we are on the island (Grand Bahama) doing a
complete assessment of all the clinics responsible for providing primary health
care. Our first stop is here in West End. We have our engineers, quantity surveyor,
mechanical as well as civil and electrical engineers accessing the major
components to the clinic to make sure it’s safe and the impact of Hurricane
Dorian has not created any major functional abnormalities.
“A quick assessment of the facility (West End Clinic) [shows] the beating of the
salt blast has caused some damage. We intend to address that damage and there
is some remedial work that needs to be done on the roof. This is all to ensure that
we protect the clinic and to prepare for hurricane season. So, we’re here now
scoping the West End Clinic so that we will be able to award some contracts and
get the facility at a level that we feel satisfied with.”
Funding of the work, he said, is as follows. “In coming to office, we had access to
two IDB loan facilities – these IDB loan facilities are responsible (for) and will help
us to do the necessary renovation and reconstruction of clinics throughout the
Family Islands. What I am doing right now, our new budget came into operation
and so I’m going through the Family Islands to look at the state of our clinics.
The funding from the IDB loan, he said, will come into effect later this year or
early next year -- “major works inclusive of construction of additional clinics
throughout the Family Islands will begin.” Work, he said, will begin as soon as the
assessments have been completed and contractual agreements are done.
While here, the team also investigated manpower deficiencies, namely safety and
security, custodial staff, additional nursing, practical nursing assistants and others.
“I am pleased to say in our administration, for the Family Islands inclusive of
Grand Bahama, the government has approved some 478 workers who need to be
trained. We are in the process of training additional emergency (EMT) specialists
who will help us with appropriate ground transportation.
“We need to coordinate our EMT operations on the ground by giving the island of
Grand Bahama additional resources, manpower resources they need so that we
can do a better job in providing services for the residents of Grand Bahama,” the
Minister said.
Visiting West End, Eight Mile Rock, Hawksbill and High Rock Clinics while in Grand
Bahama, the Minister concluded with, “We will move very quickly. We have a lot
of work to do in a short period of time, and the residents of Grand Bahama can be
assured that we will get to this work here in Grand Bahama as soon as possible.”
PHOTO CAPTIONS
DISCUSSING THE ISSUES – Minister of Health and Wellness, the Hon. Dr. Michael
Darville, is seen walking through one of the clinics in Grand Bahama discussing
some of the issues being faced by clinics. Minister Darville was accompanied by a
technical team to gather information for repairs to the healthcare facilities. (BIS
Photo/Andrew Miller)
LOOKING AT DENTAL – The dental area of the Eight Mile Rock Clinic was seen by
the technical team accompanying the Minister of Health and Wellness, the Hon.
Dr. Michael Darville. Members of the team are seen discussing issues with dentist,
Dr. Catherine Adderley. (BIS Photo/Andrew Miller)
GREETING THE STAFF – Dr. Michael Darville, Minister of Health and Wellness, was
greeted by staff of the Eight Mile Rock Clinic on Wednesday as the Minister and a
team of engineers, surveyors, administrators and healthcare workers assessed the
facilities on the island, and in Bimini, to see what repairs are necessary. (BIS
Photo/Andrew Miller)
ASSESSMENT TEAM – Minister of Health and Wellness, the Hon. Dr. Michael
Darville and Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Obie
Wilchcombe were a part of a delegation assessing healthcare facilities in Bimini
and Abaco on Wednesday. Much needed repairs are expected to begin shortly.
(BIS Photo/Andrew Miller)
INSPECTION – A technical team of engineers, surveyors, administrators and
healthcare workers accompanied Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Michael
Darville during a visit to Bimini and Grand Bahama to assess the healthcare
facilities and residents. Work will begin shortly to repair the 71 facilities
throughout the country. (BIS Photo/Andrew Miller)

Accompanied by an assessment team of engineers, quantity surveyors, healthcareadministrators and providers, Minister of Health and Wellness, the Hon. Dr.Michael Darville, was in Grand Bahama on Wednesday, August 17 visiting clinicsand viewing firsthand what repairs were needed to make staff and clients(patients) comfortable. Also on the tour was Minister of Social Services andUrban Development the Hon. Obie Wilchcombe, Member of Parliament for WestGrand Bahama and Bimini.

“The Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) is responsible for the delivery of bothtertiary and primary health care. The primary health care network extends fromWest End all the way to Sweetings Cay.” The Minister added, “When we look atour Blueprint for Change, it is clearly documented where we’re heading [towards]healthcare transformation.”

Many healthcare structures are rundown having been through Hurricane Dorianin September 2019, followed by the global pandemic resulting in a lot of workneeded to have them properly functioning to provide the best possible service.

Minister Darville continued, “Today we are on the island (Grand Bahama) doing acomplete assessment of all the clinics responsible for providing primary healthcare. Our first stop is here in West End. We have our engineers, quantity surveyor,mechanical as well as civil and electrical engineers accessing the majorcomponents to the clinic to make sure it’s safe and the impact of HurricaneDorian has not created any major functional abnormalities.

“A quick assessment of the facility (West End Clinic) [shows] the beating of thesalt blast has caused some damage. We intend to address that damage and thereis some remedial work that needs to be done on the roof. This is all to ensure thatwe protect the clinic and to prepare for hurricane season. So, we’re here nowscoping the West End Clinic so that we will be able to award some contracts andget the facility at a level that we feel satisfied with.”

Funding of the work, he said, is as follows. “In coming to office, we had access totwo IDB loan facilities – these IDB loan facilities are responsible (for) and will helpus to do the necessary renovation and reconstruction of clinics throughout theFamily Islands. What I am doing right now, our new budget came into operationand so I’m going through the Family Islands to look at the state of our clinics.

The funding from the IDB loan, he said, will come into effect later this year orearly next year -- “major works inclusive of construction of additional clinicsthroughout the Family Islands will begin.” Work, he said, will begin as soon as theassessments have been completed and contractual agreements are done.

While here, the team also investigated manpower deficiencies, namely safety andsecurity, custodial staff, additional nursing, practical nursing assistants and others.“I am pleased to say in our administration, for the Family Islands inclusive ofGrand Bahama, the government has approved some 478 workers who need to betrained. We are in the process of training additional emergency (EMT) specialistswho will help us with appropriate ground transportation.

“We need to coordinate our EMT operations on the ground by giving the island ofGrand Bahama additional resources, manpower resources they need so that wecan do a better job in providing services for the residents of Grand Bahama,” theMinister said.Visiting West End, Eight Mile Rock, Hawksbill and High Rock Clinics while in GrandBahama, the Minister concluded with, “We will move very quickly. We have a lot

of work to do in a short period of time, and the residents of Grand Bahama can beassured that we will get to this work here in Grand Bahama as soon as possible.”

PHOTO CAPTIONS

DISCUSSING THE ISSUES – Minister of Health and Wellness, the Hon. Dr. MichaelDarville, is seen walking through one of the clinics in Grand Bahama discussingsome of the issues being faced by clinics. Minister Darville was accompanied by atechnical team to gather information for repairs to the healthcare facilities. (BISPhoto/Andrew Miller)

LOOKING AT DENTAL – The dental area of the Eight Mile Rock Clinic was seen bythe technical team accompanying the Minister of Health and Wellness, the Hon.Dr. Michael Darville. Members of the team are seen discussing issues with dentist,Dr. Catherine Adderley. (BIS Photo/Andrew Miller)

GREETING THE STAFF – Dr. Michael Darville, Minister of Health and Wellness, wasgreeted by staff of the Eight Mile Rock Clinic on Wednesday as the Minister and ateam of engineers, surveyors, administrators and healthcare workers assessed thefacilities on the island, and in Bimini, to see what repairs are necessary. (BISPhoto/Andrew Miller)

ASSESSMENT TEAM – Minister of Health and Wellness, the Hon. Dr. MichaelDarville and Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. ObieWilchcombe were a part of a delegation assessing healthcare facilities in Biminiand Abaco on Wednesday. Much needed repairs are expected to begin shortly.(BIS Photo/Andrew Miller)

INSPECTION – A technical team of engineers, surveyors, administrators andhealthcare workers accompanied Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. MichaelDarville during a visit to Bimini and Grand Bahama to assess the healthcarefacilities and residents. Work will begin shortly to repair the 71 facilitiesthroughout the country. (BIS Photo/Andrew Miller)

 

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