Health officials tout public-private partnership for improvements at VJH, KPH

   

Senior health officials at Victoria Jubilee Hospital and Kingston Public Hospital say public-private sector partnership has been critical in the ongoing improvements at the facilities.

 

Refurbishing activities by the Sanmerna Paper Products, Sanmerna Foundation and Cal's took place at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital on Labour Day.

 

Dr. Garth McDonald, Senior Medical Officer at Victoria Jubilee Hospital, said despite infrastructural challenges, the maternity hospital has improved in many ways. 

 

"Our challenges are mainly infrastructural. We have had many improvements in equipment and based on the budget and the assistance of other entities, I can foresee within the next five years, Victoria Jubilee Hospital will be the place of excellence that we want it to be."       

 

"We are committed to having women deliver in dignity. So day by day, year by year, things will continue to improve at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital as we continue to restore that confidence in the Jamaican populace, our women and families, that Jubilee is the place to deliver and that we are here to offer the best care that we can," he said. 

 

Meanwhile, Dr. Natalie Whylie, Chief Executive Officer at the Victoria Jubilee and Kingston Public hospitals, is encouraging more companies to come on board. 

 

"The hospital does have an ongoing maintenance programme and the Ministry of Health and Wellness has been providing well-needed critical equipment. KPH, for example, would have been provided with three new digital X-ray units. Notwithstanding that, though, the critical repairs that are going to be undertaken by Sanmerna Paper Products and their foundation means that the efforts of the hospital can be put somewhere else. And I want to invite other companies who have that philanthropic spirit, come and participate with us, come and volunteer, because every effort makes a difference," she urged.  

 

The Victoria Jubilee Hospital is the largest referral maternity hospital in the English-speaking Caribbean.

 

Between 10 to 25 babies are delivered daily at the facility.