Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton announced in Parliament on Tuesday June 7, 2016 that the Ministry of Health through the National Health Fund will be providing one million dollars to each Member of Parliament to support Zika activities at the constituency level. The initiative forms part of the Ministry of Health’s mandate to have a more targeted community approach in its fight against the spread of the Zika virus.
The funding will be channeled through the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development and will be available as at July 1, 2016 to support interventions in high risk areas through to the end of August 2016. Minister Tufton said he has asked each Parliamentarian to “equally match our support by allocating one million dollars from their CDF to ensure a more robust and intense intervention to control this outbreak.”
The funds will be used to train one thousand (1000) community workers through the HEART Trust/NTA under the guidance of the local Medical Officer of Health. These workers will be employed for six weeks beginning July 1, 2016; facilitate community and town hall meetings working through agencies such as the Social Development Commission, Neighbourhood Watch and other community based organisations; carry out vector control activities at the community level and distribute educational material.
The Ministry will be focusing on increased partnership with the private sector and other groups during phase two of the zika response programme.
Individuals who wish to obtain more information may call the Ministry of Health or the nearest health centre. Persons may also visit our website at moh.gov.jm and like and follow us on www.facebook.com/themohgovjm; https://twitter.com/themohgovjm; https://instagram.com/themohgovjm.