KINGSTON, 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.
Health Minister Dr. 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 on Tuesday.
The loan comprises two complementary elements – a US $50 million Programmatic Policy-Based (PBP) loan and a US $50 million investment loan.
The PBP loan will facilitate measures to address prevention and control through a people-centred 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 the programme is “transformational [and – Ed.] 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. ~ Caribbean360 ~
