The Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre ( formerly known as the Mona Rehabilitation Centre) was founded in the early "sixties" by the then Dr. John Golding. The centre served as a rehabilitation unit for the many victims of Polio which was prevalent at that time. With the eradication of polio, the centre now serves as a rehabilitation unit for patients who suffer spinal cord injuries as a result of motor vehicle accidents or other trauma.
Stroke victims are also treated at the centre. These patients undergo physical and vocational rehabilitation and are made as independent as possible to be able to reintegrate in the society.
There is a children's wing which houses about 30 children with mainly cerebral palsy, and they are integrated into schools and their physical deformities improved with the help of surgery where possible. The centre is the only one of its kind in the english speaking caribbean and it under the government of Jamaica.
The existing physical structure has been in existence since the beginning of the centre and no expansion has taken place in over forty years to cope with the expanding jamaican population. More patients are being seen (from all parishes) as the number of motor vehicle accidents and inter personal trauma increases.
Hurricane Ivan also did significant damage to the centre destroying the out patient physiotherapy and occupational therapy departments; the roof of the main building was affected and leaks significantly every time it rains. The result is that patients have to wait a significant time (up to two months) for admission and there has been no out patient care for more than a year now as the departments are still in desrepair.
Dr. Rory Dixon, orthopedic surgeon and avid amateur cyclist, commenced working at the centre in June 2005 as the senior medical officer. He saw the need to expand the capacity of the centre to accomodate more in-patients as well as the urgent need to repair the out -patient departments and the main ward.
He, on behalf of the friends of The Sir John Golding rehab centre, will be riding to negril on October 15th (a "Special" ride for life) in an effort to raise funds for the beginning of which will be the transformation of the centre to accomodate the needs of the growing numbers of patients. A special account will be opened for this purpose and this will be made available soon.
Stroke victims are also treated at the centre. These patients undergo physical and vocational rehabilitation and are made as independent as possible to be able to reintegrate in the society.
There is a children's wing which houses about 30 children with mainly cerebral palsy, and they are integrated into schools and their physical deformities improved with the help of surgery where possible. The centre is the only one of its kind in the english speaking caribbean and it under the government of Jamaica.
The existing physical structure has been in existence since the beginning of the centre and no expansion has taken place in over forty years to cope with the expanding jamaican population. More patients are being seen (from all parishes) as the number of motor vehicle accidents and inter personal trauma increases.
Hurricane Ivan also did significant damage to the centre destroying the out patient physiotherapy and occupational therapy departments; the roof of the main building was affected and leaks significantly every time it rains. The result is that patients have to wait a significant time (up to two months) for admission and there has been no out patient care for more than a year now as the departments are still in desrepair.
Dr. Rory Dixon, orthopedic surgeon and avid amateur cyclist, commenced working at the centre in June 2005 as the senior medical officer. He saw the need to expand the capacity of the centre to accomodate more in-patients as well as the urgent need to repair the out -patient departments and the main ward.
He, on behalf of the friends of The Sir John Golding rehab centre, will be riding to negril on October 15th (a "Special" ride for life) in an effort to raise funds for the beginning of which will be the transformation of the centre to accomodate the needs of the growing numbers of patients. A special account will be opened for this purpose and this will be made available soon.
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