Sat | Nov 29, 2025

Adopt-a-Clinic programme generates over $220m in support

Published:Thursday | May 8, 2025 | 12:09 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
From left: Lennox Wallace, manager of the St James Health Services; Telroy Morgan, general manager at the Petrojam Limited; Dr Francine Philips-Kelly, medical officer for St James; Richard Vernon, mayor of Montego Bay; Jalene Peart-Cooper, nurse manager at
Albert Ferguson
From left: Lennox Wallace, manager of the St James Health Services; Telroy Morgan, general manager at the Petrojam Limited; Dr Francine Philips-Kelly, medical officer for St James; Richard Vernon, mayor of Montego Bay; Jalene Peart-Cooper, nurse manager at the Montego Bay Type 5 Health Centre, and Courtney Cephas, executive director, National Healthcare Enhancement Foundation, examine the six-gallon Tuttnauer autoclave machine donated by Petrojam on April 25.

WESTERN BUREAU:

Courtney Cephas, executive director of the National Healthcare Enhancement Foundation, says that Jamaica’s primary healthcare sector has received an impressive $220 million in support under the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ Adopt-a-Clinic Programme.

The initiative, which was launched in November 2017 to strengthen Jamaica’s primary healthcare system, invites local and international donors to partner with the government by adopting clinics and providing essential resources to improve patient care.

“This level of support is a clear sign that the Adopt-a-Clinic Programme is working,” said Cephas. “We have 100 facilities identified for adoption, and having 55 already supported shows we’re on the right path to revitalising healthcare at the community level.”

With international donors playing a significant role in the initiative with 33 of the 55 adoptions coming from overseas contributors, Cephas is calling for greater local involvement.

“My goal is to get far more local entities involved,” he said, noting the importance of homegrown contributions to ensure the programme’s sustainability and long-term impact.

Among the local entities integrally involved in the initiative is Petrojam, Jamaica’s state owned oil refinery, which has proven to be an invaluable partner in improving healthcare facilities at the Montego Bay Type 5 Health Clinic.

Petrojam adopted the clinic in 2023, contributing significantly to its upgrades under a three-year memorandum of understanding. Most recently, the refinery donated a six-gallon Tuttnauer autoclave steriliser valued at $1.1 million.

According to Cephas, donations through the programme have provided vital infrastructure and equipment, including air conditioning units, which remain one of the most requested improvements by both clinic staff and patients.

Cephas praised the contributions of adopters to the Montego Bay Type 5 Health Clinic, saying contribution like that is most welcome, especially considering the role in plays in the delivery of high-quality health care.

“Without partners like Petrojam and our other adopters, operating the health sector at the quality Jamaicans deserve would be much more difficult,” said Cephas. “Their support has delivered real change in terms of better working conditions for healthcare professionals to deliver more dignified care for patients.”

Beyond major equipment donations, the Adopt-a-Clinic Programme has supplied clinics with autoclave sterilisers, blood pressure monitors, examination lamps, refrigerators, microwaves, and television sets to enhance patient experience and education during medical evaluations.

As the programme expands, Cephas remains committed to attracting more local partners to bolster the healthcare system and ensure community-based medical services remain accessible to those in need.