THE Elroy Phillips Centre closed on Monday after 16 years of providing for homeless HIV sufferers.
Past and present staff of the centre, Ministry of Health staff and residents marked the occasion after Cabinet last week revealed it was closing the centre for good on March 31, as part of the ministry’s policy of moving from residential care to community living.
Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Elizabeth Ferdinand said that consideration was given not only to the revised definition of HIV from a terminal illness to that of a chronic disease, but also to improvements in the treatment of people living with the virus.
The centre, she said, was designed to provide a “safe haven” for many residents whose families knew very little about HIV or AIDS, and the fear drove them to abandon infected relatives.“
The centre has reached its objectives over the years, and the closure of this centre completes that journey of residential care for persons living with HIV to the Ministry of Health’s move to support persons with community care,” she noted.
Assistant supervisor at the centre, Felicia Inniss, shared that her time at the institution included challenges, happiness and many teachable experiences.
“Over the years we attended 48 funerals. We have been pall bearers, read funeral lessons and raised money to bury persons whose families, even in death, did not want to have anything to do with them.
“I don’t think people know the miracles that happened at the Elroy Phillips Centre, and today there are so many success stories. To the residents, be assured that we will not let you fall. You may stumble, but we will not let you fall,” said Inniss.
The Elroy Phillips Centre was officially opened on July 7, 1995, and became fully operational on August 22, 1995. It was named after a young man who was an advocate and a great source of support for other persons living with HIV. (BGIS)
