WRHA honours 33 retirees for dedicated years of healthcare service
Published:Saturday | September 27, 2025 | 12:08 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
![Arrun Thomas (left), human resource administrator at the Western Regional Health Authority [WRHA], makes a presentation to Sejae Burey, human resources manager at the North East Regional Health Authority and the keynote speaker at an appreciation luncheon,](https://jamaica-gleaner.com/sites/default/files/styles/jg_article_image/public/media/article_images/2025/09/27/3241805/8376446.jpg?itok=UmcE3syb "Credit: Photo by Christopher Thomas")
WESTERN BUREAU:
Thirty-three retirees, who were formerly employed by the Western Regional Heath Authority (WRHA), were given a heartfelt send-off when they were honoured for their commitment and dedication during a luncheon in Montego Bay, St James, on Thursday.
The annual luncheon, which was first held in 2015 and has recognised 313 of the WRHA’s retired employees over the years, was held at the MEET Conference and Event Centre on Jimmy Cliff Boulevard under the theme ‘A Legacy of Excellence – Honouring our Champions of Service’.
Yvonne Nelson, who worked as a dental nurse at the Hanover Health Department for 35 years, thanked the WRHA for giving her and her fellow honorees the opportunity to reach out and help other people through the local healthcare system.
“I just want to say that this is a momentous occasion, and it will be etched in the annals of history. We want to say thank you to the WRHA for having honoured us for our years of service because we have been through the rain and the sunshine, we have toiled with the clients, who we used to call patients, and we are eternally grateful,” said Nelson.
“We have come a long way, and we have had our pitfalls, but this organisation has been very good to us, and we have to say thanks. All that I have accomplished has come through this organisation, and I am sure that all of us who are here can attest to that,” added Nelson.
The honorees, whose years of service ranged from five years to more than 40 years, consisted of 12 employees who worked in St James, including at the Cornwall Regional Hospital and the St James Health Department; 10 employees from Westmoreland; six employees from Trelawny; four employees from Hanover; and one who worked at the WRHA’s regional office.
Keynote speaker Sejae Burey, the human resources manager at the North East Regional Health Authority, told the honorees that their years working with the WRHA had created a legacy of service for others coming after them to emulate.
“Legacy is not just about buildings and plaques or awards. Legacy is about people. It is about the lives that you have touched and changed as you have served in the public sector,” said Burey. “Many of you are stepping into retirement, but retirement does not mean the end of your service. You are still teachers, mentors, and guides, and the younger healthcare workers are looking to you for advice and inspiration.”
Damia Dawes-Monthrope, the WRHA’s corporate secretary who spoke on behalf of board chairman Eric Clarke and regional director St Andrade Sinclair, thanked the retirees for their contributions to the WRHA’s development as a healthcare organisation.
“The WRHA stands today on the solid foundation built by your commitment, your professionalism, and your unwavering service. You are true champions, guardians of public health, and the pillars of this region’s healthcare system,” said Dawes-Monthrope.