The Tribune

RECONSTRUCTION of the High Rock Community Clinic in Grand Bahama began yesterday ahead of an ambitious deadline to restore the facility in one month.

The clinic was decimated during Hurricane Dorian in early September 2019. Build Health International in conjunction with Direct Relief, another US-based philanthropic organisation, will undertake the project. On March 17, seven modular units were delivered to the clinic site to prepare for the reconstruction rollout.

Joe Rodgers, of Build Health International, who oversaw the delivery of the prefabricated units described the mission of his company: “Build Health International is a non-profit entity whose guiding principle is to partner with organisations around the world committed to strengthening the public healthcare system so that every person, regardless of ability to pay, has access to care.”

Direct Relief has supported Grand Bahama Health Services in its restoration efforts since the passage of Hurricane Dorian. This includes a donation of a modular urgent care operating theatre attached to the Rand Memorial Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Room in an official handover ceremony held December 2, 2020.

Grand Bahama Health Services administrator, Sharon Williams said, “We are grateful to be working with these donors in this recovery effort for the East Grand Bahama community. At the conclusion of this effort we will be blessed with a facility that is significantly advanced beyond what we had previously. This will enable us to expand our health care programmes within this community, inclusive of a dental suite which was lacking in our previous facility.”

It is estimated that construction will be completed within four weeks after the commencement date.