Government is borrowing $117 million from the Saudi Fund For Development to upgrade the country’s nine polyclinics.
Minister in the Ministry of Finance Ryan Straughn says this will be “critical for how we . . . better manage health outcomes in Barbados”.
Straughn piloted a resolution under the Special Loans Act for approval of the loan yesterday in the House
of Assembly.
“What we will see as part of the civil works under this specific component will be the construction of two new specialised primary care clinics, one at Eunice Gibson [Polyclinic] in St Michael and Randall Phillips [Polyclinic] in Christ Church, where you will have two new facilities being done,” said the Member of Parliament for Christ Church East Central.
“Additionally, there will be refurbishment in relation to seven polyclinics, which will be Winston Scott Polyclinic, which currently operates a 24-hour service, Maurice Byer Polyclinic, the St Philip Polyclinic, Frederick Miller Polyclinic, Edgar Cochrane Polyclinic, Branford Taitt Polyclinic, as well as the David Thompson Health and Social Services Complex in St John.”
Straughn said the project would include the provision of “specialised clinics that are intended to be delivered, the maternity and child clinic services, sexual health clinics, support clinics, emergency clinics, as well as an expanded delivery of dental services.
“In addition, we will be equipping the nine polyclinics with the necessary medical equipment and furniture in order to ensure then that the quality service that we want people to access, that that can be done as part of this,” he said.
“So, this overall programme, fits within what the Government’s broader social investment is taking place.”
The minister said Government was not in a position at any time in the last seven years to undertake these upgrades.
He explained that this was given what the authorities had “gone through fiscally, economically and the like”, including restructuring debt.
“We are now in a position to be able to identify specific financing for these interventions,” he said, meaning work on the polyclinics and other initiatives.
He said these programmes “are very much people-centred with respect to a solid programme of reinvesting within our social sector, in order to get not just access to services, but to ensure that citizens can live effectively their best lives”.
“And it starts with us being able to ensure that the quality of services can be delivered within not just the polyclinic system, but equally as we . . . expand the community health programmes that have already been implemented,” Straughn said.
“Then, we are in a position to make sure that those services can be delivered and that the people will have access right across the country to improve health services.
“I hope that will translate into better health outcomes, because at the end of the day, while the Government is focusing on how to deliver services better, I know that the Ministry of Health and Wellness has been busy trying to enhance the wellness part of the portfolio by getting people to be a little more active, and perhaps eat a little less souse on Saturday.”
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