The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE recently completed community health centres in Exuma and Abaco will open this year, Health Minister Dr Perry Gomez confirmed yesterday.

Dr Gomez said a lead doctor for the clinic in Abaco was already in place, but remained tightlipped over further details.

He made the announcement during his contribution to the mid-year budget debate in the House of Assembly, adding that the two clinics will reduce the social, financial and time burden on persons who have to travel to New Providence to seek care.

He was responding to questions put to him by Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins regarding the status of the two clinics.

Dr Gomez said: “The two clinics that you mention, Abaco and Exuma, will open this year, around the middle of the year. The lead doctor for one of them is already in place in Abaco.”

In 2013, Dr Gomez said both facilities were scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of the new budget year, which would have been last year.

He said tele-medicine will play an important role in the provision of services to those who use the facilities.

“These new community health centres are like mini-hospitals in that they are equipped with additional facilities not usually found in our clinics such as an operating theatre, laboratory and X-Ray services,” Dr Gomez said at the time.

“The benefit for the residents of Exuma and Abaco will be great. The introduction of these services means that the patients do not have to disrupt their lives by leaving their families to travel to New Providence.”

At the time, Dr Gomez said the opening of the facilities would also have implications for the Princess Margaret Hospital.

Dr Gomez said between 2002-2007, the Christie administration acquired a 50-acre site for the construction of a new hospital in Grand Bahama.

Last year, the renovated Hawksbill Clinic was upgraded at a cost of over $300,000 and reopened after months of closure.

The work at the Hawksbill Clinic followed renovation to the clinics at McCleans Town, High Rock, Sweetings Cay and Eight Mile Rock.