Nine years after a devastating fire severely damaged the La Ressource Wellness Centre and halted health services, the facility is set to resume operations, restoring a vital healthcare resource to the community.

The Ministry of Health, Wellness, and Elderly Affairs is preparing to for the much- anticipated reopening and unveiling of an upgraded La Ressource Wellness Centre that promises improved, quality healthcare for the community.

Engineer in the Ministry of Health, Monty Emmanuel provided an update on the project, offering insights into the extensive renovations and expanded services that will soon be available to residents. According to Emmanuel, the restoration of the La Ressource Wellness Centre following the fire in 2015 has been a top priority for the Ministry, not only to restore healthcare services but to enhance them significantly. The upgraded facility will include advanced medical equipment and additional resources to support a broader range of health services.

“The building was basically gutted, the roof got a lot of damage. A lot of the facility was badly burnt, coming forward we did not want to demolish the entire structure and put it to the ground, so basically we left some history in and we worked around what we had, expanded it and we made it better for the public.”

Emmanuel explained that the Wellness Centre is expected to be completed in the coming months. He noted that the contractor is focusing on final external works, including drainage improvements and fencing, to ensure a fully secure and accessible environment.

“Right now, we are in the finishing stages of the building and the infrastructure. The actual building and works are completed. We are now doing the external works which is the fencing, the car park, to facilitate public access and good access. So, the Ministry of Health right now are just doing the equipment and the furniture. So right now, this is what is coming in to finally complete the facility and open to the public.”

The engineer also noted that the expanded services to be offered at the upgraded facility will enable residents to receive care that is on par with the highest standards set by the Ministry of Health.

“I think the equipment and the services that are being provided is what will upgrade the health services, so I mean a bigger building does not necessarily mean better services but I think with the plan that the Ministry has coming forward with the equipment and the services provided to the public, I mean if you look now in the media you will see the amount of services that have been expanded to the public. So all that will be available within this centre, so therefore the public will be getting more services from the Ministry of Health.”