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Last Updated: Mar 23, 2017 - 12:40:29 PM |
South Beach Clinic Renovations ---
Contract Signing, March 21, 2017 for $500,000 South Beach Clinic Renovations, from left: Department of Public Health Community Health Administrator Charlene Bain, Minister for Grand Bahama the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville, I.G. Builders Construction Company Representative, and Managing Director of Public Hospitals Authority Herbert Brown. (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)
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NASSAU, The Bahamas – Contract signings for a total of $800,000 of renovation works to the South Beach Clinic and the Flamingo Gardens Clinic were implemented in an official ceremony, March 21, 2017, at South Beach Clinic, by Minister for Grand Bahama the Hon. Michael Darville and Managing Director of the Public Hospitals Authority, joined by local contractors.
The projected renovations to the Flamingo Gardens and South Beach Health facilities in New Providence are part of the Government’s ‘accelerated efforts’ to enhance efficiencies in the delivery of service at local public health institutions throughout The Bahamas ahead of the phased implementation of National Health Insurance (NHI).
The improvements are also expected to ensure universal high standards in quality of care for patients. Renovations/upgrades to the South Beach Health Centre will cost $500,000 while renovations to the Flamingo Gardens Clinic will cost $300,000.
The Hon. Dr. Michael Darville, Minister for Grand Bahama, gave the wider context of the initiative towards national objectives. He said the renovation/refurbishment/expansion of the two facilities are essential to the Government’s plan to ensure that all public clinics be brought to a standard whereby patients who utilize their services, feel that “we have enhanced the quality of care that they receive at our health facilities” in order to meet the requirements for the country’s National Health Insurance Programme.
Dr. Darville is tasked with spearheading improvement of clinics to bring them up to standard for NHI. His team comprises persons from Public Hospitals Authority, the Department of Public Health, and the Capital Development Unit of the Princess Margaret Hospital in cooperation with the Ministry of Works.
Flamingo Gardens Clinic Renovations ---
Contract Signing, March 21, 2017 for $300,000 Flamingo Gardens Clinic Renovations, from left: Department of Public Health Community Health Administrator Charlene Bain, Minister for Grand Bahama the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville, Ralph Hanna Construction Company Representative, and Managing Director of Public Hospitals Authority Herbert Brown. (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)
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“The signing of these two contracts follow on the execution of similar contracts to effect renovation works at clinics in several of our Family Islands. Indeed, this announcement will, in short order, be followed by more announcements targeting our clinics in New Providence and throughout our beloved Commonwealth,” Dr. Darville said.
“The public should rest assured that we are on the move and [that] the improvements to our clinics will translate into improvements in the patient experience throughout our public health system.”
The work will be concluded in several phases beginning with repairs to the roofs of both facilities.
Additional work will call for upgrades/expansions to Examination rooms, bathrooms and the interiors of both facilities to meet modern standards. Lighting damaged by Hurricane Matthew will be restored and exterior and boundary walls will be repaired and refurbished. The work also calls for the Ambulance Driveway at the South Beach Health Clinic to be completely refurbished.
Managing Director of the Public Hospitals Authority Herbert Brown affirmed the work follows on the heels of contracts that have already been issued for the expansion/renovation and/or upgrades of public health clinics throughout The Bahamas aimed at further strengthening the country’s public healthcare infrastructure in advance of Universal Health Care (UHC) through the country’s National Health Insurance Programme.
Major expansions/renovations/upgrades have also been undertaken at the Princess Margaret Hospital in New Providence and the Rand Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahama – the country’s two tertiary public healthcare institutions – to further strengthen the public healthcare network.
“At the end of the day, our efforts to improve the physical structure of our clinics and hospitals will put the patient at the centre of care and place our public health system in a position to meet the needs of the communities they serve not only today, but for generations to come,” Mr. Brown said.
“There is ample evidence that we are putting in the work to accelerate the development of our health sector in The Bahamas.”
Those efforts include the commissioning in 2016 of a modern psychiatric facility for residents and outpatients as well as with the continued modernization of clinical areas of the Geriatrics Hospital at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre.
Additionally, the Community Counseling and Assessment Centre will relocate to its new, modern and expanded location on Collins Avenue. That relocation is expected to take place “within a few short weeks.”
The supply chain functions of the clinics and hospitals have also been streamlined into a new Supplies Management Agency headquartered on Shirley Street which, when it becomes operational within the next two weeks, is expected to “bring a new level of efficiency and reliability to the procurement and distribution of pharmaceuticals and medical/surgical supplies.”
© Copyright 2017 by thebahamasweekly.com
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