Kingston, Jamaica, August 8, 2022 (PAHO/WHO) – Dr. Carissa Etienne, Director of the Pan American Health Organization alongside Hon. Christopher Tufton, Minister of Health and Wellness, and High Commissioner Judith Slater of the British High Commission planted Jamaica’s national tree, the Lignum Vitae (Guiacum Officinale), during a recent visit to the Mandeville Health Centre. The health center is undergoing a transformation under the project, Strengthening Healthcare Facilities in the Caribbean, funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
The Mandeville Health Centre serves over 35,000 Jamaicans. Its retrofitting includes repairs to sections of the roof and ceiling, installation of a photovoltaic (solar energy generating) system, and a new 15,000-gallon water tank to collect and repurpose rainwater.
Planting the national tree is symbolic of the critical connection between protecting the environment and the health of the Jamaican people.
