#Kingston, April 4, 2019 – Jamaica – The Ministry of Health has secured US$100 million in loans from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for execution of a programme aimed at boosting the country’s fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Dubbed
the ‘Health Systems Strengthening for the Prevention and Care Management of
NCDs Programme’, the initiative aims to improve the health of Jamaica’s
population by bolstering policies for the prevention of NCD risk factors, and
implementation of a chronic care model with enhanced access to integrated
primary and hospital service networks.
Portfolio
Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton; and Chief of Operations, IDB in
Jamaica, Adriana La Valley, signed the loan agreement during the launch
workshop for the programme at the international financial institution’s Country Office in St. Andrew
on Tuesday (April 2).
The
loan comprises two complementary
elements – a US$50-million Programmatic Policy-Based (PBP) loan and a US$50-million
investment loan.
The
Programmatic Policy-based Loan will facilitate measures to address prevention
and control through a people-centered primary health chronic care model.
On the
other hand, the investment element comprises three components – US$40,155,000
for the organisation and consolidation of integrated health services networks;
US$7,500 for the improvement of management, quality and efficiency of health
services; and US$2,345,000 for programme administration and evaluation.
It
includes upgrading and rehabilitation of health facilities and purchase of
medical equipment; strengthening diagnostic services; design and implementation
of an Electronic Health Record platform; and strengthening of
telehealth/telemedicine capacity, among other things.
Dr. Tufton said that the programme is “transformational
(and) represents for us, an opportunity that we should take advantage of to
change the narrative (and)… culture of public health in the interest of
achieving better health and wellness for our population, which is our ultimate
objective”.
He commended
the IDB for making the investment in Jamaica, and noted the Government’s
commitment to achieving the programme objectives. The three-day workshop aims to garner
stakeholder input on the scope and execution of the ‘Health Systems
Strengthening for the Prevention and Care Management of NCDs Programme’ for the
benefit of all Jamaicans.
Contact: Ainsworth Morris
Release: JIS
Photo Captions:
Header:
Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton
(foreground), displays the signed US$100-million loan
agreement with the Inter-American
Development Bank (IDB), for execution of a programme
aimed at boosting the country’s fight against non-communicable
diseases (NCDs). Looking on (from left) are Chief of
Operations, IDB, Jamaica, Adriana La Valley; Chief Medical
Officer, Ministry of Health, Dr. Jacquiline
Bisasor-McKenzie; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dunston
Bryan; and Senior Health Specialist, IDB, Dr. Ricardo
Pérez-Cuevas. The signing took place during the launch
workshop for the ‘Health Systems Strengthening for the
Prevention and Care Management of NCDs Programme’ at
the IDB Country Office in St. Andrew on Tuesday (April 2).
Insert:
Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton
(seated centre), and Chief of Operations,
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Jamaica, Adriana La Valley
(seated left), sign a US$100-million loan
agreement for execution of a programme aimed at boosting the country’s
fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Observing are Senior
Health Specialist, IDB, Dr. Ricardo Pérez-Cuevas
(seated right); Chief Medical Officer, Ministry of Health, Dr. Jacquiline
Bisasor-McKenzie (standing left); and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry,
Dunston Bryan. The signing took place during the launch workshop for
the ‘Health Systems Strengthening for the
Prevention and Care Management of NCDs Programme’ at
the IDB Country Office in St. Andrew on Tuesday (April 2).
Photographer:
Michael Sloley