Pogson Medical Centre After 2009 Refurbish
Photo By Erasmus Williams
Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
December 10, 2009 (CUOPM)
The People’s Action Movement (PAM) is being asked to explain why monies earmarked for the upgrading of the Pogson Hospital in Sandy Point in the 1980’s were used elsewhere.
“When PAM was the ruling party in this country the Pogson Hospital could have been upgraded and rebuilt. However the PAM Government chose to transfer the funds allocated to another project,” Dr. Norgen Wilson revealed at a public meeting on Sunday.
Speaking to a large crowd, Dr. Wilson questioned the commitment of the PAM Administration to ensure that the people of Sandy Point received the best healthcare to keep them in the best of health.
“If PAM found it possible not to use the monies earmarked for upgrading the Pogson Hospital for a community that has been electing their representative and giving them a seat election after election after election for so many years, it is an indication that they do not care about the people of Sandy Point,” said Dr. Wilson.
He said a healthy community is a wealthy community and it is a burning shame that he people of Sandy Point was denied better healthcare by not fixing the Pogson Hospital.
Dr. Wilson praised the Denzil Douglas Labour Administration for completely rebuilding the Pogson Hospital into a modern Medical Centre with several new facilities.
“When it was being built, the Hon. Shawn Richards and the leadership of his PAM party criticised it. They referred to it as the Shaolin Temple. PAM called it the AIDS Centre and other derogatory names. The new Pogson Hospital has been built for use by all the residents of Sandy Point and the surrounding areas when needed,” said Dr. Wilson.
“It is a burning shame that 15 years under PAM and in a community that they claim they love so much, a community that they claim that that the people of Sandy Point will always support them, to deny them the right to proper healthcare is shameful,” said Dr. Wilson.
“PAM had an opportunity to upgrade or rebuild the Pogson Hospital and they did not. It took a Labour Government to come forward and rebuild and provide a new medical facility for the people of Sandy Point and all the surrounding communities,” said Dr. Wilson.
The newly reconstructed Pogson Medical Centre has enhanced the quality of healthcare provided by the Medical, Nursing and Allied Staff for patients and clients on a daily basis.
The Pogson Medical Centre is comprised of the Pogson Hospital and the Sandy Point Health Centre. Both are located in one structure on the original Pogson hospital site.
The hospital comprises a 12-bed unit, a Labour and Delivery Suite, 24-hour Emergency Medical Services, Expanded Pharmacy, Radiology Services, Lab Services, Mortuary Services, Conference Centre and Maintenance Department.
The Sandy Point Health Centre provides Maternal and Child Health Services, School Health Services, Diabetes and Hypertension Services, Men’s Health, Dental Health, Antenatal/ Postnatal Services and Counseling Services.
Additional features include closed circuit television, security doors with entrance codes, and fire stations throughout the complex, a modern telephone system with paging capabilities for the entire complex, and underground parking for the staff.
The Pogson Medical Center was constructed at a cost of EC$5.7 million.