Opening of new hospital section signals radical improvement of health sector says Skerrit

Outside view of newly opened section of Dominica China Friendship Hospital

The long wait for better healthcare in Dominica could eventually become a thing of the past with the official opening of the first phase of the State-of-the-Art ‘Dominica China Friendship Hospital’.

On Friday, government officials, opposition members, dignitaries and a large number of well-wishers turned out to witness the ribbon cutting.

This new phase which is expected to benefit citizens, residents and visitors alike will include a new Accident and Emergency Building, one operating theatre, 4 doctor’s clinics, 2 isolation rooms, among many other modern amenities and services.

 “There are many citizens in this country who do not have the means of accessing medical care overseas and with this facility you will have the ability to access it right here in Dominica,” Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said while addressing the handing over and opening ceremony held on the Lindo Park grounds in Goodwill on Friday.

He continued, “No longer shall you have to take the ferry or have to travel on LIAT to go out of the country to have an MRI done anymore. They will be coming to us because we have the HiFu Machine that no one else in the Eastern Caribbean has…”

According to Skerrit, the country will be welcoming brothers and sisters from the Caribbean.

“This quality of healthcare is the first for Dominica and it is testament to how our health sector is being radically improved under the labour party administration,” he said.

He went on to say that right beside the new hospital is an ultramodern medical technology wing that will be home on the first floor, “with a new blood bank and a fully equipped lab; that facility [is] on the second floor.”

He added, “On the third floor Dominicans will gain access to the largest dialysis unit this country has ever had as well as a new diagnostic department and ambulatory daycare unit.”

PM Skerrit and wife Melissa, cut the ribbon

The Prime Minister said the occasion was “indeed a proud moment” for him.

“This is a moment I have envisioned from the time I entered office as prime minister of this country and I am elated to have played a small part like so many others, in bringing the dream to fruition,” he said.

According to the PM Skerrit, the improved infrastructure and the modern approach to medical care that this facility will foster, will also ensure that the brightest and best medical practitioners are attracted to come and work right here in Dominica.

“I said at the ground breaking ceremony that this hospital will be a symbol of who and what we are as a people and that still rings true today,” he stated.

The second phase of the new hospital, Skerrit revealed, will include the construction of a helipad among other amenities.

“Which means if, God forbid, we have to fly somewhere else, the helicopter would come right at the hospital rather than going to Douglas-Charles or the Canefield Airport,” he explained. “The Chinese government has already set aside the financing for the second part.”

He warned that there should be absolutely no negativity associated with this hospital, “nothing but positive vibes and positive adulations of this facility.”

While acknowledging that the overall project is not yet complete, Skerrit declared that “before we ring in the New Year we shall complete another step forward towards improving our country’s ability to provide affordable modern healthcare to our citizens, residents and visitors alike.”

“This is because the second phase of the hospital development has already begun,” the prime minister indicated.

A peek inside the newly-opened section

 

 

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36 Comments

  1. Ibo france
    September 10, 2019

    Talk is cheap. A true test of Skerrit’s confidence in the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital will be when Skerrit, Melissa and their children become ill, as this is inevitable for all human beings, if they will use the said hospital that he(Skerrit) has described in glowing terms instead of seeking medical attention overseas. Let’s not pretend for we all know the answer. Mr. and Mrs. think that foreign is far superior to local. Look where they chose to give birth to their children! Do you want better evidence than that? They ride on the sore backs of the people to build their empire and treat the said people and the country with utter scorn.

  2. Hoping for the best
    September 10, 2019

    I just hope and pray that this really is something good. I pray also that along with the hospital will have well trained professionals; that they will invest in helping the docs and nurses gain the interlectual resources they need to advance their careers and to be able to assist the country in a way they would wish to.

  3. Me
    September 9, 2019

    Blue mattresses, how soothing!

  4. AA
    September 9, 2019

    Can We please not Call it the Dominica china friensdhip hospital. Makes no sence

    • Me
      September 10, 2019

      Agree, it is so banal and unimaginative.

  5. Lin clown
    September 9, 2019

    While the DLP and supporters are working to build,and take Dominica to a HIGHER level,UWP is trying 100% to DESTROY DOMINICA.A lazy bunch of TRAITORS

    • Ibo france
      September 10, 2019

      Twenty straight years at the helm in government which can be considered an eternity and so little to show. This is a government of the WORST!
      *Health System- WORST in the sub region
      *Air Travel- WORST in the entire Caribbean
      *Cruise Ship Facilities – WORST among its neighbors
      *Economy- WORST regionally
      *Wages & Salaries – WORST in the OECS
      *Corruption- WORST globally
      This could continue ad nauseam. Dominicans have the WORST standard of living in the sub region compliments of Skerrit and his corrupt and spineless men of straw. These are stubborn facts that can never be disputed. Twenty years with a comatose economy, without an international airport, with astronomically high unemployment, with bad roads and bridges, with political tribalism and you talking about DLP taking Dominica to a HIGHER level. Man, give a damn break. Go back to the CIRCUS to clown around.

  6. RandyX
    September 9, 2019

    Skerrit and Gucci should be asked one question in relation to this hospital and state that they and their family won’t go abroad anymore for their healthcare but rather use ‘this state of the art’ facility from now on. I think we all know the answer and that tells us, it’s good enough for us but not good enough for them.
    Since Skerrit used this as election propaganda now and put himself into the lime light let’s return to the business at hand and ask him again to account for the missing CBI money. If he is unable to supply independently audited account he has to go and he has to go immediately!!

    • September 10, 2019

      Go get a life RandyX. You have already been Xed and Axed. Be appreciative of what you have today and stop talking nonsense. You are too negative. Give some Kudos to the Government for a change. What can Linton do better?

  7. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    September 8, 2019

    Here we go ago again, tooting our horn; patting ourselves on our shoulders as if we are talking something that makes sense!

    When one talks about proper health care, and points to a building that is the most stupid comments of all; that building can cost all the money in the world and build by a hundred China government that will not produce proper health care in the country.

    Humans skillfully trained in medicine provides efficient, and professional health care!

    And so for that to happen the hospital must be equip with every medical specialist in all fields of medicine. 

    The Hospital must be equip with not only medical compounds; (medication), machines such as MRI equipment, and other sophisticated machines to aid in diagnostics of patients is a must.

    A bunch of Cuban, and China man so called doctors walking around the place misdiagnosing people is not going to help, sooner or later that building will turn out to be as the one thy built in Afghanistan! 

  8. Annomyous
    September 8, 2019

    Medical service is part of a system of which Dominica’s medical system is in the drain with many communities and entire sections of the country without medical facility. So yes while this is a welcomed facility, it’s but just part of a greater system which is in a deplorable state at present.

  9. September 8, 2019

    God said to Moses, tell the Israelites: “I AM WHAT I AM” sent you.

    This means that God is Spirit and He makes Himself “whom” or “what” He has to be for the sake of His people’s Salvation.

    In our case, God used the Chinese Government to provide the amenities that were needed, and communication would be met through Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, to bring forth this “important and necessary provision”.

    That is why we, people, should respect the works of the Government of a Nation–in this case, Dominica–because without that respect, we are displeasing the God of Life in Love–and that is a very bad thing to do.

    We need to stop taking the matter in our hands, we have no authority to fix things which are broken; God doesn’t want us to do that.

    He forbade that Moses would enter the Promised Land, in that he disobeyed His command by his anger against the Israelites for their wicked attitude. Moses died in the Wildnerness. Think about that.

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      September 9, 2019

      Elizabeth this time I am serous, you just need to shut up!

      There is no place in the Bible where God gave any definition to what he said ” I Am That I Am!”

      God use Chines to do what?

      I told you already God is not into politics, and let me be firm on that God is not in your politics, Roosevelt, nor China politics.

      If God is in China politics, that means he supports communism, and oppression of powerless people; if God is in China politics, that means he caused the China government to dictate how many children a man and woman have which is limited to one.

      So, then when God said go into the world and multiply are you suggesting to have more than one child  a form of multiplication.

      Have you ever heard of Tinamin Square where the Chines government used military Tank to run people over killing many college students.

      Do you see the oppression imposed on people in Hong Kong this very day?

    • viewsexpressed
      September 10, 2019

      “This means that God is Spirit and He makes Himself “whom” or “what” He has to be for the sake of His people’s Salvation.” Elizabeth stop being blasphemous with your nonsense illegitimate statement. You are abusing the use of the words of our Lord God and therefore resort to the devilish behaviour and ignoramous of the devilish behaviour of this failed corrupted Skerrit/Labour government. Reduced God`s people in Dominica to hunger, begging, insulting the integrity of the Protocal of “Good governance and Transparency” (that is whether you and your failed Skerrit understand these). Elizabeth, for a few pieces of silver, your fake Pm Skerrit has been giving our poor mothers and families handouts that they will follow him to devilish and Bobol syndrome. Jesus Christ gave the good word of decent behaviour when he spoke to his people, so you have abandoned God & Jesus and you now follow the devilish behaviour of Skerrit as it suits you. Elizabeth you cannot worship Satan and God…

    • viewsexpressed
      September 10, 2019

      Also, “Thou shalt not Steal “In other words to appease you, it means “Thou shalt not Bobol, voleur for the weak and vulnerable”. Madam Elizabeth, what faith you follow (other than this political satanic Skerro)? You are really out of place, out of class and lack the intelligence and decency we know of good governance. That is where I and many others are. Your thoughts are fake blind, idiotic and you write stupidity to appease and embrace your so called “PM Skerrit” who has failed us. Madam so called Elizabeth, you go about Dominica and tell us where the social-Economic development has taken place, apart from the inner Circles of this failed immature Skerrit of yours that you worship. Elizabeth, you should and must, with immediate action, withdraw yourself from church and Our God and our saviour Jesus Christ and go take a long holiday of repentance, and advise you to stay away from ill thoughts, beg and innuendoes of this failed fake Odd Minister of yours. He has killed our…

    • Ibo france
      September 10, 2019

      This is what religion does to weak and idle minds. It is not for everybody. It turns some people into fanatics and zombies. Elizabeth, your religious fanaticism is distorting reality. Get a grip of yourself and stop taking residence on the wrong side of history.

  10. Bwa-Banday
    September 8, 2019

    While I am appreciative for anything that will bring relief to my people, I will not be a hypocrite and celebrate an unfinished project. After ground breaking, the next celebration should be “total” completion and NOT partial completion. Pure political gimmickry and absolute nonsense.

    But wait nuh, is Melissa the new health minister? I had no idea that the Dr. Dr. shuffled his cabinet and appointed Gucci Mel Minister Of Health. Ebeh look it papa!

    I wonder what the real medical doctor- Dr. Darroux- is thinking now? Well what can I say but; Play yourself Gucci Mel, play yourself while you can still bask in the luxury provided to you by the state and ALLEGED rouge friends of your husband. Time will tell though.

    • viewsexpressed
      September 10, 2019

      What!!!!!!???????????? But wait nuh, is Melissa the new health minister? I had no idea that the Dr. Dr. shuffled his cabinet and appointed Gucci Mel Minister Of Health. Ebeh look it papa!. This is real idiotic behaviour. Does this woman Melissa have any credential to be a nurse? Did she go to the Nursing School and the other relevant studies that compliments nursing practice, in particular a vulnerable place like our Dominica? That is wholly limited to resources in human, and medicine, surgery etc?? I hope this nonsense we are reading is a big Fake, just like the big Daddy Odd Minister who has reduced our people to begging and poverty? Or, will she be the defacto Secretary to the Cabinet (of bread, cash, soup, pelau etc) of the Red Clinic. Guess, she is unable to a Minister to help these people find jobs, so the easiest thing is to parade on Stage (If yo know what I mean!). This government business in Dominica has really gone too far and Skerrit and his failed government must Go. Out!

  11. viewsexpressed
    September 8, 2019

    If these are the words of Skerrit, then we are really in serious trouble. Skerrit a nice big building is not what makes a hospital, a care unit operational and workable is. It takes a combination of the Minister of Health and other related medical experts within the Ministry of Health.
    “The long wait for better healthcare in Dominica could eventually become a thing of the past with the official opening of the first phase of the State-of-the-Art ‘Dominica China Friendship Hospital’.
    Now Skerrit is sure, and lack confidence, and this is when one takes out of context and talks rubbish for fanfare without research and knowledge. It is the same issue at our poor homes. A house is not what makes a family, it is the “Home” with decent, committed parents and family. We still hear over the years of the lack of resources, food, medicine etc at our hospital, but Skerrit waste our hard earned money and created this RED Clinic, by-pass the Welfare Division and Officers. This is fraud & and…

    • September 10, 2019

      Did he not tell you no negativity? Appreciate what we have today? Ungrateful son of a bache. What should Skerrit do to please you? Ungrateful. All that negativity is uncalled for and will not help the UWP catapult onto Kennedy Avenue. You asked for a hospital, you got it and now, you still complaining. You need a life, viewdepressed. You want some of that CBI money? You wont get it no matter how hard you try.

  12. Luca Spark
    September 8, 2019

    He warned that there should be absolutely no negativity associated with this hospital, “nothing but positive vibes and positive adulations of this facility.”

    It’s called freedom of speech and it’s in the constitution. Look it up, as you have clearly forgotten.

    A new building is just a new building. A ‘state of the art’ hospital needs properly qualified and dedicated doctors and nurses. Will the Chinese be paying for those too ?

  13. Hector Marie
    September 8, 2019

    As a Dominican by birth and an American by boat to quote some one from Trinidad I am glad to see the new hospital which means the next time I walk on a nail as happened after maria I could get medical care in Dominica and politicians without mentioning names will not send their wives to give birth in the GOOD OLD U S A WHILE the hospital in marigot is given a death sentence to be replaced by what you ma call it and up to this day sept. eight 2019 not one word about replacement I guess it is placed in the same bin with the airport and the geothermal project waiting on master chiang ting

  14. Red Ants Bite
    September 8, 2019

    In today’s age a new state of the art hospital with beds and patients are separated by curtain? So patient A is still going to be disturbed by patient B? Growing up most of us were separated at home by a curtain; but today most of our children have their private room. So what makes this so-called state of the art new hospital so special?

  15. Too little too LATE
    September 8, 2019

    First of all building of a new hospital was one of the 4 pillar projects between Dominica and China in March of 2004. 15 years later we are seeing the opening of the 1st phase. As to how many Dominicans that died or got terminally ill between March 2004 and Sept. 2019 has to be ridiculously high, which is further proof that our health was not a priority to Skerrit. Not only that but it was more important for Skerritr to build a $30 million palace that was not even part of the four pillar project than to save lives. From 2004 to 2019, we have had three elections and on the verge of a forth; yet Skerrit found it more important to buy expensive candidates than to save a life. In fact if he buys this incoming election maybe he will drag the completion till the 2025 elections because he does not think about our best interests. He boasts of a state of the art hospital and equipment but how good are they now when many have since died and majority suffering with diabetes & kidney?

    • viewsexpressed
      September 10, 2019

      Too Little Too Late: The Theme of Skerrit’s Failed Governemnt. We need mature Action, focussed, disciplined people in government: Check this list of some of Skerrit`s big time failures:
      1. First of all building of a new hospital was one of the 4 pillar projects between Dominica and China in March of 2004.e in Government:
      2. 15 years later we are seeing the opening of the 1st phase
      3. How many Dominicans that died or got terminally ill between March 2004 and Sept. 2019 has to be ridiculously high,
      4. That is further proof that our health was not a priority to Skerrit
      5. It was more important for Skerrit to build a $30 million palace that was not even part of the four pillar project than to save lives.
      6. Skerrit found it more important to buy expensive candidates than save lives
      7. If he buys this incoming election he may drag completion till the 2025 elections because he does not think about our best interests.
      8. He boasts of a state of the art hospital and equipment…

  16. Bring back the kidnapped Dominican parrots
    September 8, 2019

    Invite in lardy daddy and everybody in the Caribbean to use the MRI machine, not enough people live on Dominica. No charge.

  17. Help the paros
    September 8, 2019

    Mr. Skerrit. Ask the Chinese to build a drug rehabilitation center and temporary housing for the many drug addicts (paros) we have roaming the streets of Roseau.

    • Ibo france
      September 10, 2019

      That’s a very thoughtful proposition. Vagrancy is mushrooming as there are no rehabilitation facilities to house those who become addicted to drugs and alcohol. When I think of present day Dominica I think of the poem/song ‘London Bridge Is Falling Down’.

  18. Nacinimod
    September 8, 2019

    I feel much joy for Dominica on finally getting a new hospital and medical center. And here it comes…..but is it my aging eyes or does the exterior of the hospital already need a paint job?

  19. We staying home
    September 8, 2019

    We will be the judges of how well the new hospital works for us. Glad to see how much your confidence has grown in our hospitals. I suppose now you and your family will remain here for your medical needs as well.

  20. Lin clown
    September 8, 2019

    While these LAZY,LYING UWP wasting time talking about where is the money.LABOUR WORKING.Bunch of UWP TRAITORS.

  21. Roger Burnett
    September 8, 2019

    (The PM) warned that there should be absolutely no negativity associated with this hospital…

    “Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.” (Winston Churchill)

    • Joseph John
      September 10, 2019

      Churchill was talking about positive contributions. When he said we have to sink the Bismack there was a lot of positive criticism with support for success. Without this positivity supporting him Hitler would have won WW2.
      What we have from the uwp and its gang is all negative and all fake. The uwp is the unhealthy state of things.

  22. Grateful
    September 8, 2019

    Thank you to the Chinese government for this wonderful gift. I hope our government will show our appreciation buy keeping this facility properly maintained.

  23. As I see it
    September 8, 2019

    After 20 years in office which saw Dominica clime to the third country on earth with a higher cancer rate, over 70% of the population are either diabetic or hypertensive and a very poor health facilities, including closing of a hospital and health centers, it is only fair to say that the DLP, especially Skerrit and his health minister, declared war on our health and wellness and to rush to open one phase of a well overdue hospital on the eve of an election is proof that their attack on our health was deliberate. No doubt under this DLP administration we had more funerals especially of young people 50yrs and younger than anytime in our history. Because of the very sad state of health declared on us by our government, I even think it would make more sense for Skerrit to use the money to build a national funeral home or a national cemetery than a hospital because the damage has already been done. Only if the hospital is for his Chinese nationals to replace Dominicans.

  24. RandyX
    September 8, 2019

    “They will be coming to us because we have the HiFu Machine that no one else in the Eastern Caribbean has…”, Skerrit said. Now I seriously have to question the sanity of this man, I mean nobody can keep on lying all the time like that. Furthermore, having a machine like that doesn’t mean a thing and it’s completely useless if one has no specialist personnel inc. doctors to use the equipment effectively. I urge all Dominicans to ask Skerrit if he and his family will be using this ‘state of the art hospital’ from now on! And while at it ask him when he will account for the missing CBI money.

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