The restoration of the Chapelton Community Hospital in Clarendon, Jamaica, is the current project of The Push-Start Foundation.

Phase-one of the project is now complete; the funds during that segment included US$1 million from the founder Jamaican-American businesswoman and philanthropist Beverly Nichols.

Phase-two is about to get on the way with support from the Government of Jamaica. When complete, the facility will be able to accommodate 40 beds and will be furnished with state-of-the-art equipment.

Built in 1903, the facility is reclassified as the Chapelton Community Hospital but was formerly a full hospital with wide-ranging services. Today, there is no operating theatre but the services offered include a maternity ward and a general ward for patients with minor illnesses.  The outpatient section caters to persons in need of dental care, dressings; family planning services; and there is a pharmacy at the facility.

Hundreds of persons will benefit from the new and improved community hospital as it serves districts such as Summerfield, Thompson Town, Mocho, Frankfield, Nine Turns, Effort, Smithville, Blackwoods; and several others within a 20-mile radius of the town of Chapelton.

Chapelton Community History

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During the period of African enslavement on Jamaica’s sugar plantations, Chapleton was a plantocracy settlement. Local folk therefore talked about going to “the chapel in the town.” After a while, the town became known as Chapel Town but with the passage of time, its name became distorted and was shortened to become Chapelton.

The town has many outstanding landmarks. In front of the St. Peter’s Anglican Church is the town’s civic park. At its entrance is a bust of Maroon leader Cudjoe, behind which is the Clock Tower which chimes the hour and half hour and bears the names of citizens who died in World War 1.  Across from the clock are the police station and farmers’ market. Near the centre of the town on its own hill is the famous Clarendon College and closer to the town centre is the courthouse.