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| Premier Vance Amory breaks ground for Nursing Home at Alexandra Hospital compound. |
Charlestown Nevis (September 7, 2004) Nevis’ Premier, the Hon Vance Amory and Minister of Health, the Hon Jean Harris on Tuesday, broke ground to signal the official commencement of a state of the art nursing home for the senior citizens on the island, at the Alexandra Hospital compound in Charlestown.
A brief official ceremony was held at the grounds of the Alexandra Hospital, and Permanent Secretary of Health, Mr. St. Clair Wallace, during his opening remarks observed that the structure would be one of the greatest humanitarian project ever undertaken in this century of the life of the people of Nevis.
He also noted that the commencement of the model multi purpose home for the senior citizens has served to demonstrate the love and respect that the government and the people of Nevis hold for our deserving seniors.
Premier Amory told the gathering, which included members of the Nevis Island Cabinet, staff and patients at the infirmary, that the government acknowledged that in looking after the people in the country, it would require the support and cooperation of persons in the communities.
He said, “We require the support and cooperation of family members, of children and grandchildren, of community workers, medical and nursing personnel because we are in fact investing to look after the link between our past and our future. So to care for them and to provide the facilities in which they would be care for is in fact your government’s act in showing appreciation for the contribution, which your senior citizens have made to the development of our country.”
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| Minister of Health, Hon Jean Harris turns the dirt to signal the breaking for the new home. |
In attributing the need to look after the senior citizens of the island to be of paramount importance to the government, the Nevisian Leader pointed out some of the collaborative work being done.
He said, “We can also point to the support which has been given to the St. George and St. Johns Senior Citizens Home, the support which we have given and will continue to give to the Prospect Citizen Home and the provision of concession on medical services and medical supplies for our senior citizens.”
Minister of Health, the Hon Jean Harris in giving brief remarks thanked several persons and organisations that have contributed to the care and well being of the residents at the infirmary. She also expressed appreciation to the Mojarni Group of companies who would be constructing the institute and hope that all would go smoothly.
Hospital Administrator, Mrs. Joslyn Liburd gave an overview of the project. She noted that the facility would cost some EC$4 million and is expected to be completed within ten months. She also noted that it would accommodate some thirty-six persons. Twenty free beds, eight private rooms, eight semi-private beds, with air condition, telephone, cable television and all rooms will have ceiling fans.
According to Mrs. Liburd, all private and semi-private rooms will attract a cost to them, adding, “There will always be room for those destitute, and the facility will be for the elderly and would be operated by a board.”
