Residents of the St. Catherine Infirmary in Spanish City are actually benefiting from a Therapeutic Park, which was formally opened on April 7 by Minister of Native Authorities and Group Improvement, Hon. Desmond McKenzie.
Talking on the ceremony, the Minister described the ability as a spot of consolation, including that the residents shouldn’t really feel that they’re in a jail whereas within the care of the State.
“It permits the residents the chance to take a seat outdoors below the gazebo, take within the cool night, learn, giggle, play and revel in themselves. That is one thing that can assist to ease their thoughts, chill out them in an setting that’s conducive for care, as a result of that is what we’re providing right here,” Mr. McKenzie mentioned.
He identified that most of the individuals who dwell in infirmaries have contributed to the expansion and the event of the nation, and the Administration is dedicated to making sure that the required sources can be found to satisfy the wants of the residents.
“We do all the pieces to uplift them and to permit them to proceed to be part of the society as a result of they’ve performed their half for Jamaica, and it’s time now we play our half,” Mr. McKenzie mentioned.
“The residents should discover consolation with us. We must not ever permit them to lose sight of that love,” he added.
The Minister additionally reported that during the last three years, greater than 50 residents in infirmaries throughout the island have been reunited with their households, and that there are residents who’re at universities “enhancing their training, regardless of their circumstances”.
“This Authorities continues to offer the monetary help for these individuals to assist them to vary their lives, and to make them in a position to contribute extra to the nation,” he mentioned.
Lauding the individuals who look after the residents at infirmaries, Mr. McKenzie mentioned those that work on the services should have compassion and a coronary heart to care.
“There are occasions you need to chunk your lip and mash your toe, due to the circumstances that exist, and I need to commend you,” the Minister mentioned.
“The report of abuse in our infirmaries proper throughout the nation could be very minimal, and one factor I’ve maintained since I got here into the job in 2016 is that regardless of what occurred, no person has any proper to abuse any of the residents which might be in our care, and I’m completely happy that we’ve got been in a position to preserve that through the years,” he added.
In the meantime, Mayor of Spanish City, Councillor Norman Scott; Minority Chief, Councillor Theresa Turner Flynn, and Matron on the infirmary, Moesha Jones, welcomed the opening of the park.
