The Ministry of Health (MOH) has commenced the process of building out additional bed capacity, to aid in the surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations across the island.
On Tuesday, September 22, the Health Minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton revealed the location of three other Field Hospitals. In addition, to the 40-bed facility currently being installed at the National Chest Hospital in Barbican St. Andrew.
On Saturday a U.S. Air Force Aircraft Transported a large mobile Field Hospital to Jamaica. The donation from the United States comes as part of ongoing assistance to nations responding to the global pandemic in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
An official handing over ceremony of the 40-bed facility at the National Chest Hospital will be held today September 23.
In addition, Dr. Tufton says the other facility will be another 40-bed facility that will be based at the Mandeville Regional Hospital. For that facility, the Canadian Government will be contributing approximately one hundred thousand Canadian dollars.
Two other Field Hospitals will be constructed across the island. These the MInister says will be constructed at the St. Josephs Hospital in Cross Roads, Kingston and this will be a 36-bed facility. The other will be at the Falmouth Hospital, which will be another 36-bed facility. This gives the country an additional 152 beds, which the Minister says will al become available in short order. These facilities will be committed to the COVID-19 response.
The Government of Jamaica will fully finance the procurement of these two facilities at a cost of approximately sixty-five million dollars each.
The money will be taken from the consolidated fund under the budget of the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
Robian Williams reports for CVM LIVE:
