JAMAICA AND CHINA SIGN AGREEMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF WESTERN CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL - MFAFT

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Foreign Minister, Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith signs on behalf of Jamaica, an agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation with Chinese Ambassador, H.E Tian Qi. Looking on is Health Minister, Dr. the Hon, Christopher Tufton.

Jamaica and China signed an agreement with a grant aid of 250 Million RBM (yuan) which will facilitate the construction of the St. James-based Western Children’s Hospital and other projects across the country.

In symbolising the partnership between THE TWO countries, the agreement was officially signed BY the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith and Ambassador Tian Qi of the People’s Republic of China.

Johnson Smith underscored the significance of the Jamaica-China economic cooperation and expressed her gratitude noting, “This support to infrastructure development in the health sector is particularly timely and welcome as the Western Children’s Hospital will be the first public hospital to be constructed in the island since the May Pen Hospital in the 1970’s. She also stated that the building of the Hospital “will enable Jamaica to realise our Sustainable Development Goals in health, whilst projecting us farther along the path of economic growth.”

Ambassador Tian shared that the “Children’s Hospital is both a gift and a new symbol of friendship between both countries.” Ambassador Qi further expressed the hope that the project will “contribute to a stronger, healthier and happier youth generation.” Children’s Hospital is both a gift and a new symbol of friendship between the countries, Ambassador Qi expressed the hope that the collaborative project will, “contribute to a stronger, healthier and happier youth generation.”

Stating that ‘tangible manifestations of the project’ will be seen before the end of the fiscal year(March 2019), Minister of Health Dr. Christopher Tufton noted that the 220 bed health facility, will be housed on the Cornwall Regional Hospital compound and, will be the first in the region to offer critical care to not only children, but also adolescents up to 18 years of age.

The signing took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, October 18.

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