KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica has announced plans for the construction of a state-of-the-art medical dome, which will accommodate up to 100 beds on the grounds of the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) in Montego Bay, northwest of here.
Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton said that the 10,000 square-foot facility, engineered to withstand a category 4 hurricane, is being donated through partnership involving the Jamaican government and international non-governmental organisations Judah 1 and Kennedy Quick Reaction Fund.
Tufton said that in addition to hospital beds, the dome will also be equipped with X-ray machines, autoclaves, clinical equipment and a range of essential supplies. It is expected to arrive by late February and will be located near the hospital’s Accident & Emergency department to ensure a seamless flow of patient care.
Tufton said that the additional 100 beds will push CRH well beyond its previous levels and that the dome will also provide critical breathing room while work continues on the main hospital building and contractors make steady progress in restoring capacity lost during Hurricane Melissa, which damaged approximately 157 beds.
So far, 75 beds have been restored, bringing the hospital to 259 beds or about 75 per cent of its pre-hurricane capacity.
“So again, for the gift of the 100-bed dome and all the other equipment supporting that, the health team is absolutely thrilled,” Tufton said.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder of Judah 1, Everett Aaron, said that the dome will help to address the urgent needs at the hospital.
He said it is important to not only deliver temporary relief but durable solutions that can serve communities over the long-term.
The Chief Operating Officer of Kennedy International Logistics and Services, which operates the Kennedy Quick Reaction Fund, Christie Hutcherson, said engineers from the University of Miami have been working on the interior design and layout of the dome.
She noted that the donation not only includes the structure but also medical essentials like mattresses, medications, and basic clinical tools, all of which are gifts to the Jamaican people.
“We know that this support has been needed for some time. From the beginning, we were faced with a choice to move fast with a short-term solution or to take the time necessary to deliver something that would be meaningful and sustainably support Cornwall over the long haul. We chose the harder path, not because it was easier but because it’s the right thing to do,” she said.
