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(left to right)Michael Lashley, Architect on the project, Architects Ltd.; Minister of Health, Donville Inniss; Adrian Christie, Principle of ADC; Managing Director and Project Manager, Andy Clarke observing the progress of the St. John Polyclinic construction site. (W. Alleyne/BGIS)??

Work at the new polyclinic in St. John should be completed by September or October next year.

This disclosure has come from Minister of Health, Donville Inniss, following a tour of the 4.6 million dollar project last Friday.

"I am extremely impressed with the quality and quantity of work that has happened thus far. Recognising that quite a bit of remedial work had to be undertaken, I’m satisfied that the work is moving at great pace and on the current trajectory, this building will be handed over to the Ministry of Health by late next year," he affirmed.

He told members of the media that Government had resumed work at the Glebe Land, St. John site, since it was an integral part of the Ministry of Health’s expansion programme. Mr. Inniss pointed out that the community facility would provide services that went beyond what was traditionally offered and that the Ministry of Health’s officers had begun sourcing the necessary equipment to furnish the 27,000 square foot facility, since "there is no interest in having?? it completed and unused.

"Besides a General Practitioner, Mental Health and Family Health, there will also be facilities for a Welfare Department, Environmental Health [Department], a state-of-the-art library and gym which will open out to an Amphitheatre. Ambulance Bay facilities will also be available," Mr. Inniss added. In addition, he explained that the facility would also feature wide spaces and four connecting ramps to aid the physically challenged.

In relation to the mounting pressure being placed on the Queen Elizabeth Hospital as a source of primary care over the years, the Health Minister indicated: "We are moving away from that, in reforming our health care system, it’s much more than just providing the buildings."

Mr. Inniss observed that it was important to re-educate Barbadians about the range of services available at the island’s primary care facilities. He noted that the movement towards the preventative side of health care emphasised the fact that the primary care facilities have an integral role to play.

alyson.holder@barbados.gov.bb

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