The authorities have failed to repair the Golden Spring Health Centre since Tyrone's Watch visited in February 2006.

What's not working?

Perhaps the only thing that changes over time is time itself. And, St. Andrew residents who use the Golden Spring Health Centre know that truism too well.

When Tyrone's Watch first visited the Golden Spring Health Centre more than a year and a half ago, the facility was in shambles. The ramshackle structure, with missing board panels and dysfunctional electricals, has seemingly got stuck in a time warp.

In February 2006, a resident referred to the clinic as nothing more than a goat shed. In all fairness, that moniker still aptly describes the health centre.

Synopsis of situation:

The news team may be short-sighted, but we are pretty sure that the electricity meter attached to the health centre was not spinning. So, it would be fair to conclude that there was no electricity there, or perhaps we just had bad timing. The clinic was also missing a few pieces of board. So, as you would imagine, this makes the 'health facility' easily accessible to stray animals, pesky rodents or vandals.

For a clinic dedicated to nursing and lactating mothers, these conditions are downright disgraceful. There was no one there when we visited last week. The clinic was closed that day and one resident, saying that he was not surprised it wasn't open, suggested that its run-down state probably affected operations there.

Others in the community said that the last time the issue was brought into the public domain, the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) said it would look into resolving the issues. Almost two years later, and still at ground zero, they believe there is little hope left for the dying clinic.

Who's responsible?

SERHA.

What's the status?

A representative from SERHA's Kingston and St. Andrew office said that the Golden Spring Health Centre was still a priority, but the agency has had its hands full grappling with dengue and other outbreaks that have been affecting the Corporate Area and, by extension, the island.

Conclusion:

While mindful of the agency's bid to tackle disease outbreaks, and the general neglect that has beset many health facilities in Jamaica, Tyrone's Watch strongly believes something must be done to improve conditions at the Golden Spring clinic - even for the sake of saving face. Must the nursing mothers wait another year?

- Marlon Vickerman

We want to hear from you!

Tell us about problems in your community. We will visit and help to lobby for action.

Write to: Tyrone Reid, the Gleaner Company Ltd., 7 North Street, Kingston; Fax: 922-6223, Telephone: 922-3400 Ext. 6364 or Email: tyrone.reid@gleanerjm.com

A damaged power meter and missing window panes reveal the state of neglect into which the health centre has sunk.

The missing panels at the Golden Spring Health Centre make the facility open country for strays and pests. - Photos by Marlon Vickerman