The Modern Medical and Diagnostic Centre is just one part of the Medical Complex in Georgetown that is expected to improve healthcare delivery to the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines.
The official opening ceremony for the centre was held on the grounds of the complex yesterday in Georgetown.

Myrna Morris (centre) cuts the ribbon to open the Modern Medical and Diagnostic Centre at Georgetown, with the assistance of (from left) Vilma Reyes Valdespino, the Cuban Ambassador to SVG, Frederick Stephenson, Minister of National Mobalisation, Social Development, Family, etc, and Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves.

And Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said that the other facilities that complement this new centre include the Georgetown Smart Hospital, the clinic and the nearby playing field, which promotes wellness.

“There is no place in the entire Caribbean that you have playing field, clinic, Smart hospital and Modern Medical and Diagnostic Centre like we have here in St Vincent and the Grenadines,” Gonsalves said.

a large crowd awaiting the prime Minister for the official cutting of the ribbon at the entrance of the Modern Medical and Diagnostic Centre.

The prime minister stated that the medical and diagnostic centre cost approximately EC$42 million.

He added that it will deliver a range of treatment including chemotherapy for cancer patients and haemodialysis for persons with kidney failure.

Gonsalves said the centre offers other types of treatment and has an accident and emergency unit and operation theatres. But he said that persons should not go to the centre for issues that can be dealt with at the clinic or smart hospital.

“If you want as usual to get an injection, you don’t go to the Georgetown Smart Hospital or the Modern Medical and Diagnostic Centre. You go to the clinic. If you have a little cut on your foot and your hand, or you have an old injury that you want to dress, you don’t have to go to accident and emergency. That’s not an accident, nor is it an emergency,” he said.

Some of the doctors and nurses from the Republic of Cuba who will work at the Modern Medical and Diagnostic Centre in the audience at yesterday’s ceremony.

“They constitute a whole, but each of them has its own respective role. It may take a while for you to understand where you should go, but in time, with good listening, you will know where you will go.”

The prime minister revealed that the centre was designed by the Cuban Government free of cost. He also said that the Cuban government provided technical advice and equipment for the facility.

Father Kari Marcelle (centre), follows Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves into one of the rooms in the centre to bless it.

Furthermore, Gonsalves thanked the government of South Korea and the government of the republic of China on Taiwan who also made contributions to the Modern Medical and Diagnostic Centre.

Other speakers at yesterday’s event included Luke Browne, the minister of health; Simone Keizer-Beache, the chief medical officer; Vilma Reyes Valdespino, the Cuban ambassador to St Vincent and the Grenadines; Damion Allen, the quantity surveyor; and Cuthbert Knights, the permanent secretary in the ministry of health. The master of ceremonies was Hans King, press secretary to the Prime Minister.

LUKE BROWNE, Minister of Health