Healthcare for the residents of Spring Village has always been a central focus of the UK chapter. Over the years, it has contributed wheelchairs, walkers and even monetary aid to various residents. The clinic project has been the brainchild of the UK and Florida chapters and was proposed at Homecoming 2008. As the years ensued, various partnerships have emerged to bring the project to where it is today. Partners such as the Minesotta missionary team in collaboration with the SVDF have invested heavily in the construction efforts and as a result a large portion of the building has been constructed as shown below. The UK chapter have made monetary contributions and the Florida chapter has also contributed equipment.
Highlights:
- The UK Chapter has donated a total of $344,470Jm to the construction and implementation of the project. $70,000 from the 2008 reunion and the rest on other occasions.
- Ongoing fundraisers will be conducted by varionus chapters to donate supplies to the clinic.
- The Minesota missionary team donated containers and equipment and contributed significantly towards construction of the building.
- Recently, (April 2012) the Governor-General has visited the project and has expressed a desire to lend his support for its completion.
- On May 1, 2013 the Governor-General opened the clinic as part of his inituitive.
- On Friday, August 02, 2013, the Clinic was again opened to mark the 15th Aniversary of the SVDF.
“I am pleased that we have been able to facilitate so that her job can be a little bit easier and do a better job in the sense that more people will be reached, there’ll be more supplies for individuals who really need it,” she said. “We are an inclusive group, so anybody who wants to be a part of this endeavour is welcome. You don’t have to be specifically from Spring Village to be part of what we are doing. It’s not exclusive.”
Wednesday May 01, 2013 Published by (Kings House Website)
| GG Commends Spring Village on ‘I Believe’ Medical Centre | | |
The medical clinic is the brainchild of the SVDF. In addition to the I Believe Initiative, the project has received assistance from US-based Dr. Gayle Lumdeen and the Global Mission, as well as Food for the Poor. Executive Director of the SVDF, Mr. Randy Finikin, said that phase one of the project would provide medical services such as a Mother and Child Clinic and dental services by certified health professionals. Phase one is expected to be launched in May. Phase two will include expansion of the dental services, mental health and training in occupational health. |
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 His Excellency the Governor-General (third left) in speaking at the new ‘I Believe’ Medical Centre last evening commended the people of Spring Village who he said worked hard to overcome challenges and didn’t sit around for handouts. Last Tuesday (Apr. 23) the Governor-General and Lady Allen revisited the community and donated $200,000 dollars towards the completion of the clinic. The donation was made possible through contributions from three sponsors of the „I Believe‟ Initiative: Scotiabank Jamaica Limited, Maffessanti Builders and Contractors Limited and Fosrich Group of Companies. Sir Patrick commended the people of Spring Village who, having recognized their community‟s problems, did not sit around waiting for hand-outs, but worked together to overcome the challenges. This was the true spirit of the IBI, which he hoped other communities would emulate. The "I Believe" Medical Centre marks the third collaboration between the IBI and the Spring Village Development Foundation (SVDF), the others being IBI‟s sponsorship of a Teen Pageant and collaboration with LIME for the installation of free Wifi Internet access in the community. Sir Patrick also congratulated Mr. Robert Levy and Best Dressed Chicken for their heightened sense of corporate social responsibility which prompted their constant support of Spring Village.  (L-R)His Excellency the Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen, and the Most Honourable Lady Allen visited the new ‘I Believe’ Medical centre in St. Catherine. The Governor-General, as part of his I Believe programme, presented a cheque of J$200,000 to Ms. Michelle Desgouttes, Programme Officer and Mr. Randy Finnikin, Executive Director of the Spring Village Foundation on April 24, 2013.
Friday, August 02, 2013, Published by The Jamaica Observer. |
(From left) Lady Allen officially opens the Spring Village ‘I Believe’ Medical Clinic in St Catherine on Tuesday. Observing are Lyttleton Shirley, chairman of the South-East Regional Health Authority; Rev Norval Rodney (background), member of the Spring Village Ministers Fraternal; Norace Harris-Bolt, and Jacqui Banton of the Spring Village Development Foundation’s United Kingdom Chapter; and Nicole Marshall-Walker, group public relations and training manager at Jamaica Broilers Group of Companies. (PHOTO: JIS)
THE Spring Village Development Foundation (SVDF) in St Catherine has been commended for its commitment to the residents in the community, and for its work in establishing a medical facility to serve more than 20,000 persons. Speaking at the official opening of Phase One of the Spring Village 'I Believe' medical clinic on Tuesday, Lady Allen, wife of governor general Sir Patrick Allen, noted that the clinic is the result of the foundation's tireless work and dedication to the community.
"This complex proves what can be achieved when you dare to dream, pursue that dream with determination, and are so enthusiastic about it that others are led to support you for the achievement of that dream," she said.
The clinic aims to provide affordable, preventive, primary health care to residents of Spring Village and neighbouring communities in a centralised location, where the health services most in demand can be accessed.
Residents will be able to get optical screenings, dental care, mental health/counselling, pharmacy and laboratory service, as well as pre-and post-natal services.
Lady Allen informed that her husband declared Spring Village an 'I Believe' village because he was impressed by the way the residents used their initiative to develop solutions to the problems they identified in the community.
The project has been endorsed by the 'I Believe Initiative', which is spearheaded by the governor general, and is focused on projects intended to contribute to the transformation of Jamaica.
She said the I Believe Initiative is pleased to be a partner in the project and expressed gratitude to the stakeholders for agreeing to add 'I Believe' to the name of the clinic.
"This is a testimony to the fact that they all share the conviction of the governor general that there is nothing wrong with Jamaica that cannot be fixed by what is right with Jamaica. They agree that a motivated community working together to achieve a better quality of life is an aspect of what is right with Jamaica," Lady Allen said.
For his part, Chairman of the South-East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) Lyttleton Shirley said the clinic is a major advancement in health care delivery.
Meanwhile, executive director of the SVDF, Randy Finnikin, said the opening of the facility is an expression of the commitment of stakeholders in the community in ensuring that the population of Spring Village is healthy and productive, as "we relentlessly pursue the transformation of this community to meet the challenges of the day and to play its part in contributing to national development."
Support for the clinic has come from several entities, including Jamaica Broilers, which donated the land for the facility; the Jamaica Missions of Minnesota, in the United States, and the SVDF Chapters in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.
-JIS
UK Chapter donates medical supplies to The Spring Village Health Clinic.
Monday January 18th 2016 (Published by Oldharbournews.com )
Nurse Paulette Simms (left) says the medical supplies were well needed while speaking to Jacqueline Banton (right), Geraldine Easy (2nd right) and Michelle Simpson (2nd left)Old Harbour News Photo
The Spring Village Homecoming UK Chapter, on Friday donated approximately £600 worth of medical supplies to the Spring Village Clinic.
The official handing over of the primarily pharmaceutical goods took place at the clinic which opened to the community in 2013.
Jacqueline Banton, president of the United Kingdom Chapter, led a team of Jamaican-British nationals in making the presentation which could not have come sooner for a grateful Paulette Simms, resident nurse at the health facility.
Speaking to Old Harbour News afterwards, Nurse Simms said: “I want to say many, many thanks to you guys because we are actually out of everything. We were really scraping the bottom of the pot to reach where we want to go.
“You’ve brought a lot of stuff that is really well needed because I have persons in the community who really need these stuffs. I have some really large wounds to deal with… but with this that you’ve brought I know it will do much better.
“So again I really want to thank all those who put their hands and heart together in sending these to the Spring Village Medical Centre. Thank you very much.”
It is the biggest donation yet by the UK chapter of this Diaspora body of predominantly expats who also contribute monetarily on a monthly basis to assist with paying staff and managing the facility which forms part of the Spring Village Development Foundation. Since the clinic opened its doors to the community, keeping its doors open remains a continuous challenge said Randy Finnikin, executive director of the foundation.
“It’s a welcome one because sustaining this health and wellness centre is a big problem. We have no support other than support that is mobilized by the foundation. The (Spring Village Homecoming) UK Chapter’s contribution is big because most of what they’ve contributed is consumables and that goes very fast. This will certainly help with the sustainability issues that we have right now,” Finnikin told Old Harbour News.
“It cost us roughly £600 to £700 and that includes shipping,” said Banton following the presentation. “When we giving to the community we giving back to ourselves basically because we are a part of this community. This community is us. This is where we are from so whatever we’re doing we are doing it for ourselves. So it gives us a sense of pride, a sense of achievement and makes us feel really, really proud… and our endeavour is to continue to build the community.”
It was heartwarming listening to Nurse Simms, Banton added before urging others to give back to the community.
Pictures From the Clinic Groundbreaking By The Spring Village Chapters
