Les Mamelles Health Centre re-opens with more modern facilities |05 January 2017

‘Health in all, by all and for all’

The Les Mamelles Health Centre reopens its doors today and will start receiving patients as from 8am.

After the clinic has been closed for nearly one year, period during which extensive renovation has been carried out on the existing building and a new wing has been added to the facility, patients from the district as well as Roche Caïman, Plaisance, Cascade and lower La Misère will as from today not have to report to other neighbouring health centres for treatment. The population of about twelve thousand from these areas will now benefit from the services to be offered at the clinic. These include general consultations, occupational therapy, pharmaceutical dispensing, rehabilitative services, family planning as well as antenatal care. Dental services will be added as from the month of March.

The Minister for Health and Social Affairs Jean-Paul Adam yesterday afternoon unveiled the inauguration plaque to mark the clinic’s reopening. The ceremony took place in the presence of Vice-President Vincent Meriton, other government ministers, principal secretary for health Bernard Valentin, the district’s member of the National Assembly (MNA) Bernard Georges, French Ambassador Lionel Majesté-Larrouy as well as other health officials.

In the name of the inhabitants, Patrick Bijoux was thankful of the authorities for the renovated infrastructure and new services.

He reminded the role of the community to become guardian of the facilities and take ownership of their own health.

After the opening ceremony which included animation from the health department choir and the Les Mamelles youth cultural troupe as well as the blessing of Reverend Elizabeth and Father Landry from the Anglican and Catholic churches, the guests were treated to a tour of the services. They were guided by nurse manager Monette Ernesta who also showed them other facilities such as offices, records’ room, staff canteen and a mini conference room.

Miss Ernesta described the occasion as a new beginning in delivering best possible service in the form of quality and person-centered care.

She added that it also provides the opportunity to work with the collaboration of the community where she says “health problems lie and where care is really needed”.

Minister Adam joined her in underlining the importance of investing in community health and reminding that a better health for all begins in the family and expands in the community.

“Health in all, health by all and health for all” he emphasised, adding that the Les Mamelles Health Centre will not only treat ill patients but also represents the wish to collectively invest in better community life.

Expressing pride that the country has successfully delivered on universal access to health care, he reminded that Article 29 of the Constitution guarantees access to free health services to all Seychellois without discrimination and that infrastructure and community programmes are key elements of this strategy.

“Government will continue in its effort to offer a high standard of service in the community, in line with our strategic plan and in line with the redevelopment plan of the Seychelles Hospital. The renovation of the Les Mamelles Health Centre recognises that there is much we can do in the area of health promotion. We can better invest in our community in order to achieve long-term results. This health centre should not be a project to improve facilities: We also expect it to bring a new of lease of life in our work to put health in all, by all and for all”.

Mr Adam thanked everyone who has contributed in the modernisation and re-opening of the health centre. These include her predecessor Mitcy Larue, former Les Mamelles MNA Emmanuel Fideria, local construction company Laxmanbhai, health professionals who have followed the project and ensure it replies to the people’s needs, staff from other health centres who have coped with supplementary demand during the renovation works and residents for their solidarity and understanding.

Renovation works on the Les Mamelles Health Centre, which was built 31 years ago, have cost R11.3 million Seychelles rupees. They have been financed by the government of Seychelles and Laxmanbhai which has contributed R3 million. Minister Adam has qualified the public private partnership as important for the future of the health system.

As other community projects for the year 2017, the Ministry of Health has announced the construction of the Ile Persévérance and Ile Soleil clinics. During the year, work will also start on the new La Digue Hospital.

Touring the facilities in the renovated health centre