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$160m for Carenage, Diego health centres
Posted On 24 Jul 2014
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THE Carenage and Diego Martin Health Centres are expected to cost about $160 million, Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan said yesterday.
Earlier in the day, chief executive officer (CEO) at the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) Judith Baliram had said Khan would turn the sod for the Carenage Health Centre tomorrow at Constabulary Street at 10 a.m.
Baliram was delivering the CEO’s report at the Public Board Meeting 2014 at Nalis Audio Visual Room, Port of Spain, yesterday, when she spoke about Khan and the Carenage and Diego Martin Health Centres.
Baliram also shared salient information from a 39-page document ranging from provision of primary care services, extended hours clinics at San Juan, outreach programmes aimed at fighting childhood obesity and infrastructural upgrades at Oxford Street Health Centres.
Among those present yesterday were Dr Andy Bhagwandass, chairman, NWRHA; deputy chairman (NWRHA) Toey du Coudray, Carol Khan, Medical Director of Health, and Ronald Hinkson, director, NWRHA.
Baliram also said Diego Martin Health Centre will be under construction soon. But she could not give a definite date when the over 150-year-old Port of Spain General Hospital, on Charlotte Street, would be rebuilt.
Asked to give an update on the information, Baliram had shared, via a telephone interview later yesterday, Khan said: “Both Carenage and Diego Martin are expected to cost about $160 million. Carenage has been in the pipeline. It should have been done a long time ago. We don’t discriminate. I believe Carenage will be the resuscitation centre because if any problems occur people are thrown in the back of a maxi-taxi and an ambulance. If anything happens they will be stabilised.”
Turning his attention to Diego Health Centre, Khan said: “I am waiting for the lots of land at Wendy Fitizwilliam Boulevard to be transferred to the Ministry of Health. I am waiting for the land before going out to tender. I am standardising a number of these health centres. Soon I will be turning the sod at Point Fortin, Palo Seco, Arima and Sangre Grande. I am ready to go with all.”
During her contribution, Baliram had said, “The master plan is before the Ministry of Health for the Port of Spain General Hospital. It is a work in progress. We are looking at a state-of-the-art hospital. It is not a NWRHA project. But a government project. It is expected to benefit all.” 
Apart from its proposed construction, Baliram said future plans will include the reopening of dental suites at St James, installation of the new elevator at North Block, construction of a platform for a CT scanner and paving of the roadway at the Port of Spain General Hospital.
