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Jamaica Secures US$100 Million from IDB to Fight NCDs

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#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

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CARPHA Progresses to Eligibility for the First Disbursement of Pandemic Funding

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Following a landmark Public Signing Ceremony for the Pandemic Fund (PF) Technical Cooperation Agreement (“Reducing the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Prevention, Preparedness, and Response” [RG-T4387] Project) on December 14, 2023, in Trinidad, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) continues to progress towards the start of implementation.

 CARPHA fulfilled the IDB’s nine conditions prior to first disbursement, achieving full eligibility on March 15, 2024, and is now eligible for the first disbursement. This milestone achievement in just 3 months after the signing speaks to the commitment of both CARPHA, the Executing Agency, and IDB, the Implementing Entity, toward the regional PF project with the objective of supporting the reduction of the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean by building pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPR) surveillance & early-warning systems (EWS), laboratory systems and workforce capacity, regionally at CARPHA and in countries.

Since the signing of the Technical Cooperation Agreement and as part of the conditions prior to first disbursement, CARPHA has achieved the following key outputs (i) the development of the PF Project Operations Manual, Multi-annual Execution Plan, Procurement Plan, Financial Plan, Procedure for CARPHA’s Financial Reporting System; (ii) vacancy announcements for two tranches of consultants with the subsequent hiring of five (Technical Coordinator, Financial Specialist, Procurement Specialist, Operations Officer and Project Operations Coordinator) and (iii) the establishment of the Project Execution Unit (PEU) and Project Execution Steering Committee (PESC). The dedicated PEU will be responsible for execution according to its planned timelines, which will be led by the Dr. Lisa Indar, the Project Director (CARPHA’s Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control Division).

 CARPHA, as the lead regional public health agency and an expression of Caribbean Cooperation in Health is mandated by its Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) to support its 26 CARPHA Member States (CMS) in bolstering national systems and coordinating regional response to public health threats. The Agency works closely with regional and international agencies and uses regional mechanisms, surveillance systems, and networks for coordinating its public health response work.

In July 2023, the PF Governing Board announced that CARPHA’s regional entity proposal, entitled ‘Reducing the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Strengthened Integrated Early Warning Surveillance, Laboratory Systems and Workforce Development’ was successfully selected for the first round of financing. It was one of only 19 proposals selected from over 300 submissions and the only regional project. The three priority areas in the proposal are: (i) Comprehensive disease surveillance and EWS, (ii) Laboratory systems and (iii) Human resources and public health and community workforce capacity.

This project is expected to begin implementation in March 2024, starting off with a blended onboarding session. A Stakeholder Meeting with countries is tentatively planned for July 2024.

CARPHA remains dedicated to working together with the IDB, CARPHA Member States and the Pandemic Fund to successfully implement the regional proposal geared toward reducing the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean.

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Men who had Murdered Man, Marley Higgs’ cell phone face Court

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Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Correspondent

The prosecution intends to try two young North Caicos men, both age 21 for the offense of possession of property of a murdered man, property that was stolen and landed in their possession.

The phone belonged to Peureton ‘Marley’ Higgs, who is believed to have been an innocent gunned down at his apartment complex in the Glass Shack area in a spray of bullets on February 2 that killed another man and wounded two others, including a ten-year-old little girl.

The cell phone was described as white in colour, an iPhone, in a hard black case. 

On Monday, March 18th, JEFFVANO HANDFIELD of North Caicos pleaded not guilty to the offense, and the matter was adjourned to April 2024. He was granted bail in the matter.

A second North Caicos man was charged similarly.  

SARENO CAPELLAN aka, Kino Williams is the second individual brought before the court pertaining to the said cellphone. He appeared in court a week after JEFFVANO HANDFIELD, the date being Monday March 25th 2024.

The case for the Crown is that both men sometime in February of this year possessed the cellphone knowing or suspecting it to be stolen property.

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Supreme Court Closed for Easter

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NOTICE is hereby given that the Easter Recess shall commence on Friday 29th April, 2024 and end on Friday 5th April, 2024. During the Easter Recess Judge Selochan will be available to deal only with matters that are urgent or require prompt attention.

Court Business During the Easter Recess

A person who wishes to have a matter heard during the recess must file a certificate of urgency along with an affidavit, which must set out the reasons why the matter is urgent or requires prompt attention. The matter will not be listed during the recess unless the Judge deems it fit for urgent hearing.

Opening Hours During the Easter Holiday

The Supreme Court’s last sitting day for the first term is Thursday 28th March, 2024. The Court will officially resume sittings on Monday 8th April, 2024. The Supreme Court Offices in both Grand Turk and Providenciales will continue to operate while the Court is not sitting during the recess.

The Court Office will be closed on the following public holidays:

  • Friday 29th March, 2024 (Good Friday) CLOSED
  • Monday 1st April, 2024 (Easter Monday) CLOSED

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