Jamaica and Cuba have signed two agreements designed to strengthen the provision of public health care services on the island, according to a report on www.cananews.com.

The Jamaica government said that the new medical centre will be located at the St. Joseph's Hospital in Kingston and its services will be available to ophthalmology patients from the entire English speaking Caribbean.

“This is the culmination of an offer of an eye care centre made some time ago by former Cuban President Fidel Castro,” the government said.

The other agreement is to extend the technical co-operation between the two countries for an additional two years.

Under that accord, Cuba will provide 85 health specialists, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and lab technicians for the nation's public health system.

Health Minister Ruddy Spencer, speaking at the signing ceremony, thanked Havana and said that it would go a far way towards meeting the eye care and other medical needs of the country.

Outgoing Cuban Ambassador, Gisela Garcia Rivera, who signed the agreements, said that the new centre was a dream of the former president, who had left instructions for it to be completed.

"Jamaica had a special place in the hearts of Cubans," she said.

Source: Go-Jamaica