Yahneake Sterling, Staff Reporter
Minister of Health John Junor (left) chats with Claudette Hemmings (second left), Michelle McIntosh (right), director of financial and management accounting services at the Child Development Agency and; Gerthlyn Holman, Lt. Governor of Kiwanis Jamaica; during the re-opening ceremony of the Glenhope Child Care Facility, St. Andrew, yesterday. - NORMAN GRINDLEY/DEPUTY CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
MINISTER OF Health John Junor has called the reopening of the Maxfield Avenue-based Glenhope Place of Safety, a sign of "hope".
The Minister said he was amazed when he entered the newly-refurbished child care facility yesterday.
"The environment in which we live, learn, grow and develop, has a significant impact on our state of mind and our physical state," the Health Minister said.
The Glenhope Child Care facility was closed some six months ago when it was deemed unsafe, unclean and overcrowded.
According to Michelle McIntosh, director of financial management and accounting services at the Child Development Agency (CDA), all the concerns of the facility have now been addressed.
Ms. McIntosh said additional security systems have been implemented, including razor wire on top of the wall. New sewerage facilities were also put in place. Extensive termite treatment was also carried out.
Not only is the facility more equipped for security and health, but it now has the capacity for twice as many girls as it was previously intended to house.
The facility can now adequately accommodate 80 girls as three new dormitories were added to the existing three. An administrative block, new managers, clerical and councillors offices were also added as well as an area for residents to meet with their visitors.
IMPROVING SERVICES
Ms. McIntosh said that, in keeping with the agency's mandate and vision to ensure that children gain maximum life chance benefits from educational opportunities, health and social care, the agency decided to standardise its facilities and improve services offered, such as recreational areas. Attention was also given to skills training and utilising set standards as to the amount of space required for each resident.
The girls will also get to test their tennis skills as a court is now available to them courtesy of the Kiwanis Club of North St. Andrew.
The renovation was completed at a cost of $8.6 million.
Noting that this is foster care week, Mr. Junor said the reopening could not have come at a better time.
