DR. MITCHELL: THE NNP ADMINISTRATION FEELS PROUD  

Prime Minister Dr.  Keith Mitchell says it was only a New National Party (NNP) administration led by him that delivered on its promise of building a new General Hospital for the country. He noted that the idea of a new General Hospital has been considered by successive administrations  but it took an NNP government to build one.

"Fellow Grenadians, unlike those who went before us, this administration, your government had the will, the commitment to determine the most appropriate and progressive path with respect to a new Hospital and the overall health care of the people of Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique" Dr. Mitchell noted.

The Grenadian leader made the comment while delivering the feature address at the official commissioning of Phase 1 of the New General Hospital last Thursday. He said  government examined the pros and cons of moving the General Hospital to another location but that they were faced  with a dilemma of finding funds and the highly skilled technical support required to build a multi-million dollar modern Hospital.

"Once we were convinced that moving the facility to another location would be too costly and indeed, was not necessary, we began formulating a plan" the Prime Minister noted. Concerns have been expressed in some quarters about access to the facility in the event of an accident.

There are reports that Mt. Gay was the site earmarked for the project under the former National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration due to the location. The Grenadian leader promised that under Phase Two of the project  construction will begin on the new road that will join the Carenage to the Esplanade which will ensure more than adequate access to the Hospital.

Prime Minister Mitchell pointed out, however, that the physical facilities are only part of the solution to improving Grenada's health care services. He urged employees at the Hospital to ensure that visitors and patients feel welcomed and appreciated from the moment they arrive at the entrance gate.

"They must feel appreciated by every employee they encounter, whether they are here for major surgery or to collect laboratory test results" Dr. Mitchell noted. "Services must be provided in an efficient and timely manner. The Prime Minister also called upon Grenadians to accept personal responsibility for their own health.

"If we are honest with ourselves, I am sure we can all make improvements to our diets and become more committed to some form of daily exercise". Moreover, when we consume local foods, we support our farmers, fishermen and the small entrepreneurs involved in agro-processing" the Grenadian leader noted.

Health Minister Dr. Clarice Modeste-Curwen who delivered remarks at the ceremony indicated that the new Hospital was in response to the cries of Grenadians for improved facilities. She noted that the facility is not a perfect Hospital but a significant improvement to what was being used before.

Modeste-Curwen warned that the new facility has to be maintained. Within the next few weeks and months consultations will be held to determine who can pay for health care. Phase One, which was completed in December at a cost some $30 million, includes a four-story building with five operating theatres, a recovery room, an intensive care unit and a medical and surgical ward.

The refurbished building that formerly contained the nurses hostel, caters for a 23-room nurses hostel, 20 private rooms, as well as the obstetrics and gynecology unit and the pediatric unit. Phase two which is underway is expected to cost at least $30 million over the next two years. It includes construction of the Nursing School, the main building which will house the Administrative Department, Outpatient Consultation, a Chapel, X-ray Department and Pharmacy among other services.