CHRISTIANSTED— Governor Albert Bryan Jr and Department of Health Commissioner Nominee Justa Encarnacion announced the official opening of the temporary modular units at the Charles Harwood Medical Complex during a ceremony Thursday at Estate Richmond in St. Croix.
Governor Bryan highlighted the importance of Thursday’s ceremony to the community and thanked the Department of Health and other stakeholders for their efforts to ensure the installation of the modular units.
“Today is a great day for the Virgin Islands and the St. Croix community,” Governor Bryan said. “It is the beginning of the permanent repairs and our road to a new and improved healthcare system in the territory. I thank Commissioner-Nominee Justa Encarnacion and her staff at the Department of Health, and all the stakeholders for all of their efforts.”
Department of Health Commissioner Nominee Justa Encarnacion also highlighted Thursday’s opening of the temporary modular units as the beginning of the Department’s efforts to deliver improved quality healthcare services to the people of the Virgin Islands.
“It is symbolic that we open the door to our modular offices and the clinical spaces during Public Health Week. It is also a very exciting and relieving time for the Department of Health as access to the modular units affords our staff a comfortable work environment to provide improved healthcare services to our clients. I am enthusiastic about embarking on a new journey in a new space,” Commissioner Nominee Encarnacion said.
The Charles Harwood Medical Complex sustained significant damage following Hurricanes Irma wand Maria in September 2017 and has since operated at minimal capacity.
Department of Health Deputy Commissioner Reuben Molly celebrated Thursday’s milestone as a step forward and the beginning of the department’s long-term strategy to demolish and reconstruct the medical facility.
“While we celebrate this accomplishment today, this is just the beginning,” Molloy said. “The installation on St. Croix Modulars is our midterm plan. The longterm plan is to demolish and rebuild the aging storm-damages Charles Harwood Memorial Complex. We need to establish appropriate facilities for our staff to provide premium public health services to the residents of St. Croix,” Molloy added.
FEMA Recovery Director Jacqueline Heyliger spoke to the collaborative efforts of FEMA, the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) and the Department of Health in the aftermath of the hurricanes and throughout the recovery process.
“Since the hurricane force winds subsided, FEMA and the federal family have worked hand-in-hand with the Department of Health and VITEMA to meet the needs of survivors and restore essential services,” Director Heyliger said.
“We are proud to have been a part of this effort, contributing more than $1 million in funding and collaborating across the federal family, in particular, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in the installation of these modular units,” Heyliger added.
FEMA provided $1 million in funding to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the installation of the 66 modular units in place. The units will be utilized as temporary medical, EMS and administrative facilities.
Additionally, FEMA has obligated more than $1.1 million in funding to outfit the modular units with furniture and electronics.
Thursday’s ceremony ended with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting and a tour of one of the temporary modular units.
