#Mandeville, May 20, 2024 – Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says Jamaicans are buying into the Ministry’s #KnowYourNumbers campaign, which encourages persons to monitor key indicators such as blood sugar, pressure and cholesterol levels, and body mass index, among other vital metrics.

Dr. Tufton says more than 500 people have undergone multiple medical tests since the initiative commenced, noting that “when you look at what it means for some people, it’s literally lifesaving.”

He was speaking with journalists during the campaign’s 11^th road show at Bargain Village Plaza in May Pen, Clarendon, on Friday (May 17), where hundreds of residents came out to receive various health checks. These included dental checks and body mass index tests.

Dr. Tufton said the test results are showing either existing or potentially extreme cases requiring emergency care, pointing out that the Ministry, through the  #KnowYourNumbers initiative, is reaching out to people and creating opportunities for health education.

“[This campaign] is helping people to respond, because some of them could [for example] be on the verge of a stroke. [But] we are [also] saying to Jamaicans [that] besides events like these, take time to go to the health centre and know your numbers. Do your annual check-up, because too many of us are walking around with conditions and are not taking them seriously until we get a stroke or heart attack, and that’s what we want to avoid,” he emphasised.

Resident of New Bowens in Clarendon, Bobbett Morse, who said she previously delayed going to the doctor to her check-ups, informed that she decided to attend the road show because of the many health services which were being offered during the event.

“I got my blood pressure, sugar, cholesterol, HIV, eyes tested and teeth cleaned; and I got a letter to take to the hospital for further eye tests,” she informed.

The event also saw Dr. Tufton engaging attendees in a wide range of other activities, including testing their knowledge on some of the services offered by the Ministry.

There were also information sessions on preparing healthy meals and aerobics exercises, among other engagements.

The final stop for the #KnowYourNumbers tour will be in Portmore, St. Catherne.

Contact: Barbara Ellington

Release : JIS

Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, May 20, 2024 – The Turks and Caicos is attempting to optimize the tens of millions it spends on healthcare each year with a new National Health Sector Strategic Plan to guide how money is allocated and increase efficiency in healthcare and increase health equity.

Shaun Malcolm, Minister of Health presented the theme ‘Building a Strong Resilient and Sustainable Healthcare System for Future Generations Brick by Brick’.

Desiree Lewis, Permanent Secretary of Health explained that the document “identifies and prioritizes key health issues and challenges facing the population allowing resources to be allocated efficiently to address those priorities.”

In doing so the plan is also supposed to promote collaboration between the various stakeholders in the Health industry including policy makers, legislators, doctors and other healthcare professionals on the ground; giving them an outlined set of objectives to work on in their various spheres, for a specific collective outcome.

”This will facilitate a more unified approach to addressing health challenges and leveraging resources effectively,” Lewis explains.

Modeled to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goal number 3 which is to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, the plan was developed during COVID-19 and presented by Lynrod Brooks, Director of Health Policy and Planning in the Ministry of Health and Human Services.

The plan maintains that in order to attain a healthier and empowered people there are three key actions necessary: protecting health gain, already achieved in the country; addressing past deficiencies; and identifying and implementing interventions to address new health challenges.

In order to achieve the goals set out, in addition to the three key actions there are six Strategic Directions that health stakeholders will follow

• SD1 Strengthen Leadership, Governance and Administration: ‘Ensuring entities transform resources into results,’
• SD2 Protect and Improve Universal Health Coverage (UHC): ‘Provide people of all ages and all health needs with health services.’
• SD3 Address Health Security: ‘Identify outbreaks and other health threats.’
• SD4 Promote Healthy Populations: ‘Support the creation of a conducive environment to support well-being, healthy living,’
• SD5 Invest in Health: ‘Ensure appropriate resources are available and efficiently used.’
• SD6 Improve Data for Impact: Increase the availability, quality and use of timely and accurate health information

Some of the priority areas under the health plan that these six Strategic Directions seek to address include, pandemic prevention; increased mental and behavioral healthcare; Strengthened national capacity against health emergencies and disasters; universal access to comprehensive, quality health services; reduced risk of non-communicable diseases; and Increased equitable access to essential medicines and vaccines.

The 3 year document will also make provisions for monitoring and evaluation so policy makers can assess if the plan is actually working. It’s billed to enhance accountability with a quarterly report to be presented for the 3-year period.

Attending the event were a myriad of professionals and policy makers indicative of the many areas of the healthcare industry which the plan will affect; attendees included: Dr Rufus Ewing, Former Premier and Minister of Health; Dr. Eldonna Boisson, the Pan American Health Organization representative for the Turks and Caicos and The Bahamas; Dr Ellis Webster, Premier of Anguilla; Washington Misick, TCI Premier; Dileeni Daniel Selvaratnam, TCI Governor and others.

#TurksandCaicos, May 20, 2024 – From January to April, the Turks and Caicos Islands saw 271,326* air arrivals, an increase of 10.46 percent over 2023 which saw 245,637 arrivals in the corresponding period.

The majority of air arrivals were from the United States which saw 215, 247 air passengers, with 26, 275 passengers from Canada, and 5,031 passengers from the UK and Europe.

Air Arrivals for January to April 2024. *These numbers are preliminary

The cruise sector also saw a slight increase in passengers in the first four months of 2024 with 371,857 passengers recorded in comparison to 2023 figures of 371, 392 for the same period.

April saw 29 calls to port, the highest number for the year so far, boosted in part by four Royal Caribbean sailings to the Grand Turk Cruise following their suspension of the Haiti route due to unrest there.

Cruise numbers from January to April 2024. *These numbers are preliminary

Reflecting on the air and cruise performance for the year so far, Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Josephine Connolly said she is proud that the Turks and Caicos Islands continue to be a destination of choice for holiday seekers.

“The data shows that our air arrival numbers are projected to remain high through August which indicates that our tourism sector will remain buoyant all year. This is great news for the people of Turks and Caicos as we are working assiduously, through Experience Turks and Caicos to ensure that everyone benefits from the tourism industry,” she said.

Experience Turks and Caicos, the Destination Marketing and Management Organisation of the Turks and Caicos Islands, through its Community Connect Meetings, has been rolling out its plans to diversify the destination’s offerings, enhance the visitor experience and partner with stakeholders to ensure the success of the tourism sectors is enjoyed by everyone across all the islands.

The meetings have taken place so far in North and Middle Caicos.