Children’s Ward Gets Make-Over By St. Mary Parish Council

On Monday May 23, the St. Mary Parish Council took on a mammoth task for its Labour Day Project. The organization, as its official project, took on the renovation of the Port Maria Hospital Children’s Ward.

Director of Administration at the Council, Myrnel Grant, says that despite the great amount of work at hand, “The Port Maria Hospital Children’s Ward was chosen as it conforms to the national [Labour Day] theme: It Takes a Village to Raise a Child”.

One corporate entity has joined the community effort in aid of children. Triple play digital provider Flow donated $50,000 to the St. Mary Parish Council for work to be carried out at the children’s ward. Public Relations Manager at Flow, Denise Williams, says her entity which began operations in Jamaica five years ago is pleased to partner with the Council.

Ms. Williams explains that, in addition to the St. Mary Parish Council, Flow has contributed to five other councils $50,000 each towards their Labour Day projects. “Flow views this partnership as significant to the overall development plan for Jamaica,” says Ms. Williams , “we are pleased with the response from each Parish Council and we certainly commend them for the dedication to improving the lives of residents in their localities”, she adds.

Confronting the task with gusto, duties at the ward included the painting of security grills, the reconstruction of cupboards in the milk room, construction of a linen cupboard, replacement of a drainage board, replacement of fluorescent light trays, and repainting of the entire children’s ward. The Council also began a mural on the walls of the ward in an effort to uplift the aesthetic environment.

This year’s national theme has resonated throughout St. Mary. Miss Grant says dozens of volunteers turned out to lend their assistance towards the project. Resources and manpower aid were recieved from the National Solid Waste Management Authority and the Jamaica Constabulary Force. Members of the Jamaica Defense Force were also on location, to prepare the day’s meals and provide technical assistance.

Other organisations which offered their support were The National Youth Service, the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, the Jamaica Public Service Company, the St. Mary Fire Department, the Social Development Commission and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

The St. Mary Parish Council’s effort will began on the weekend with some eight volunteers on location each day preparing for Monday’s activities. The huge multi-sectoral partnership towards renovating the Port Maria Hospital Children’s Ward was led by Mayor Richard Creary and the hospital’s staff. The Parish Council marshalled all its resources and that of affiliates to make a reality, in enhancing the living condition for inmates of the Port Maria Children’s Ward.