Donald Rhodd, junior minister in the Ministry of NationalSecurity (left) touring the hospital at the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre, yesterday. With him are Major Richard Reese, head of the Department of Correctional Services (second row, left), Superintendent Leroy Fairweather (centre) and June Jarrett (right), deputy commissioner of Custodial Services. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE REFURBISHED hospital at the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre was officially reopened yesterday by Dr. Donald Rhodd, State minister in the Ministry of National Security.
The facility has been renamed the Fairweather Medical Complex in honour of one of the prison's superintendents. It had been closed for almost two years following extensive damage caused by Hurricane Ivan. As a result, administrators had to send sick inmates out of the institution for medical care.
50 NEW BEDS
Major Richard Reese, head of the Correctional Services, told The Gleaner that it cost $4.7 million to renovate the facility which has upgraded equipment and 50 new beds.
"This will reduce our dependence on the public health system in terms of convalescence and means we can give more in-patient services," said Major Reese. "It's less strain on the public health system and it supports our security programme."
Funding for the new-look hospital came from various services, including the Global Fund, Florida Association of Volunteers in the Americas and the Caribbean, the Ministry of Health, and the American Corrections Association.
Major Reese said the hospital is equipped with a dentist, psycologist, nurse and medical orderlies who are trained as emergency medical technicians.
About 1,694 inmates are at
the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre, one of four maximum security prisons in Jamaica.
