Jamaica has noted its commitment to an upgraded and responsive primary health care system, as it moves to meet the changing health needs of the population and achieve universal health coverage.
Minister of Health & Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, speaking at the 35th Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland on May 20, said an important step on that road is giving priority attention to human resources for health.
“Jamaica has embarked on a reform of primary health care, which is in keeping with our 10-year Strategic Plan and this will see an expanded scope of services as well as an enhancement of existing services in keeping with the evolutions that have occurred in the health needs of the population,” he said.
“In keeping with this, we have recently reviewed and created a physician workforce document that will provide the framework for the engagement of more doctors in both primary and secondary care. We are currently reviewing the other health care provider groups to ensure that there is capacity for delivering quality and comprehensive care in all areas,” added the Minister.
According to Dr. Tufton, a critical part of improving universal health coverage – which addresses the provision of essential health services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care – is increasing access.
“Jamaica believes that this also requires re-sensitising the population to their health needs and reorienting them into utilisation of the primary health care system,” he explained.
It is for this reason, the Minister said, that the island’s Ministry of Health & Wellness has launched two programmes to enhance health promotion through education and screening.
This includes the new ‘Know Your Numbers’ campaign that will utilise mobile outreach to meet the population in their communities and workplaces “to provide education, redirect them to primary care centres and, most importantly, provide essential screening for priority diseases right where they are”.
“We aim to target our hard-to-reach populations, including our men and our young people as well as to create access for those who just cannot make it to our facilities,” Dr Tufton told his colleague Commonwealth health ministers.
“We are also launching a Life Stage Approach to Health promotion and Prevention in our primary care centres where persons who interact with these facilities will be exposed to health topics and screening that is relevant to their life stage and a general public awareness campaign on the health needs at each life stage,” he added.
According to the Minister, the intention is to take advantage of the captive audience “during the antenatal period and the early childhood years”.
“It is important that we maintain this link with the population, that they come to expect and anticipate services at the next life stages,” he said.
“This will allow for early education on issues that cross all life stages and will worsen if not intervened on early. In particular, it provides an opportunity for early discussion on, and screening for mental health issues that affect our young people and elderly persons in a setting that does not intimidate or stigmatise this problem,” the Minister said further.