Residents of Clare Valley, Chauncey, Rillan Hill and Questelles in St. Vincent and the Grenadines now have greater access to quality primary health care services, free of charge, thanks to the refurbishment of the Clare Valley Clinic by the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the Caribbean Development Bank's (CDB) Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF). The Clinic was officially opened on December 4, 2014 by Prime Minister, Dr. The Honourable Ralph E. Gonsalves. Renovated at a cost of USD174,000, Clare Valley Clinic offers a range of services including: emergency care, maternal and child health, puerperal visits, family planning, chronic disease clinics, and HIV counseling services. Upgrades included a roof replacement, the creation of larger examination and doctors' consultation rooms, improved sluice and laundry area, improved ventilation, enhanced patients' waiting areas, an asthma bay, and a larger pharmacy. In addition, the nurses' quarters was refurbished, the external water storage replaced and the perimeter fence upgraded. The Clare Valley Clinic is one of several large infrastructure and educational sub-projects, as well as skills training programmes executed with funding from the BNTF's sixth programme (BNTF 6) allotment of USD1.78 million to the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Other subprojects funded under BNTF 6 include the paving of village roads in Wallilabou and London, and renovations to Spring Village School and Questelles School. The VINSAVE preschool in Layou was completely rebuilt, while a new Health Centre was built in Port Elizabeth, Bequia. In addition, 67 preschool teachers were given best practices training in Early Childhood Education and 15 youths received small engine repairs training. The BNTF Programme began 35 years ago and is a regional grant-funded poverty reduction programme managed by CDB which serves 10 countries. Its mission is to empower and equip communities with necessary resources, and improve their access to basic public services. Additionally, BNTF also directly targets youth-at-risk and promotes gender equality, environmental and disaster risk management, and maintenance and sustainability. Regionally, more than USD300 million has been spent to date on projects which have benefitted more than 2.6 million people living in the poorest communities in these countries. CAPTION: Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. The Honourable Ralph E.Gonsalves