Rayon Dyer, Gleaner Writer

BLACK RIVER, St. Elizabeth:

Minister of Health, Horace Dalley, has said that under his watch the National Health Fund (NHF) will be upgraded to an Executive Agency.

The minister was speaking yesterday at the reopening of the operating theatre at the Black River Hospital in St. Elizabeth.

Mr. Dalley said the NHF has been meeting its objective of providing affordable health care to thousands of Jamaicans since its inception.

He said that as of next year, three hospitals will be equipped with out-patient departments. They are the Percy Junor, Noel Holmes and the Linstead hospitals.

The operating theatre suite at the Black River Hospital was severely damaged during the passage of Hurricane Ivan in September 2004.

The NHF approved $14.3 million for the refurbishing and expansion of the damaged facility, as well as an additional $3.32 million for the upgrading of the theatre. Alumna Partners of Jamaica Limited contributed $500,000.00 towards the project.

The new-look facility has a two-bed recovery room, changing room (patients), surgeons and nurses offices, staff changing room and bathroom as well as a reception and storage area and staff lounge.