A fully equipped ambulance was handed over to the St. Elizabeth Infirmary by the CHASE Fund in a significant step towards enhancing the care of residents at the facility. The presentation took place at the infirmary on April 10, 2025.
CHASE CEO, W. Billy Heaven, noted that the ambulance donated to the St. Elizabeth Infirmary was one of two which had been acquired at a cost of $33.6M and that the other ambulance would be handed over the Portland Infirmary at a later date. “This occasion represents more than the handover of an ambulance. It is an indication of our shared commitment to dignity, care and service for our most vulnerable citizens”, Heaven said.
Emphasizing the need for the vehicle, the Hon. Desmond McKenzie, the Minister of Local Government and Community Development, noted the distance of the Infirmary from the nearest hospitals in Black River and Mandeville. “Each infirmary is going to be equipped with an ambulance to support the work of the staff and to provide for the residents,” the Minister said referring to his Ministry’s plan for the 13 infirmaries across the island.
Minister McKenzie informed the audience of agency heads, community leaders, healthcare professionals, infirmary residents and community members a previous partnership with the CHASE Fund which had resulted in the acquisition of generators for infirmaries. “The government has recognized the importance of moving with modern times and since 2016 we have been improving the service delivery in infirmaries across the country,” the Minister said.
The Chairman of the CHASE Fund, Omar Frith, highlighted the Fund’s track record of responding to needs of the health sector and that CHASE’s Health sector budget was always over-subscribed. He noted that the Fund had approved the request quickly but that the procurement of the ambulance had taken some time. Chairman Frith stressed the need for good governance. “We follow the rules and can properly account for the resources that we expend,” he said.
The CHASE Chairman also noted that there seemed sometimes to be a disconnect between agencies and the overall mandate of the government but advised that the CHASE Board of Directors was acutely aware that the Fund exists to serve the country at large and the mandate of the Government of Jamaica.
Under its Health portfolio, the CHASE Fund invests 20 percent of its resources in infrastructure upgrades, acquiring modern equipment and technologies for hospitals,
health centres and clinics, promotion of healthy lifestyles and facilitating training of health care practitioners.
