Jamaica and China has signed a multi-million agreement for the construction of a 220-bed Children’s Hospital in Montego Bay, west of the capital Kingston.
Minister of Health Dr. Christopher Tufton said the hospital will be the first to be constructed in the island since the May Pen Hospital was built in the 1970s and will provide increased access, pediatric treatment and care.
He said the new hospital will enable Jamaica to meet the targets under the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, particularly as they relate to health status of the nation’s children.
The minister said that following completion of the new hospital, families will be able to access specialized care for children care for children under the age of 12 and adolescents closer to their communities,
The project, he said, will also enhance the nation’s tourism market.
Dr. Tufton noted that the bilateral agreement between Jamaica and China for the project will serve to strengthen the relationship between the countries as well as boost the public health care system.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamina Johnson said the project marks a significant milestone in the relationship between Jamaica and China as they celebrate 45 years of diplomatic relations this year.
