Activities in Jamaica

JICA/JOCV Jamaica, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Jamaica and the Pan-American Health Organization/World Health Organization have conducted "Leadership Programme in the Prevention and Control of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases" for CARICOM countries over the past five years.

Director of the Health Promotion and Protection Divion in the Ministry of Health, Jamaica. Dr. Eva Lewis-Fuller, who expressed appreciation to the government of Japan for supporting the Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases Prevention Programme for CARICOM countries for a five-year period.

Chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity and cancer now account for 56% of deaths annually in Jamaica. Diabetes, hypertension and certain types of cancer, such as cervical cancer are of growing concer.*

Japanese Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Masahiro Obata, opened the "Leadership Programme in the Prevention and Control of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases in Jamaica at the Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston during FY2007.

Participants from 15 CARICOM countries discuss with Dr. Yvette Williams (third left) serious issues on Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases in their respective territories.

Participants came from:
Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Guyana, Suriname, Belize, St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Caribbean Charter on Health Promotion in 1993 builds on the core principles of health promotion , and emphasizes community participation and creating alliances. The six strategies of the Charter are:

• Formulating public policy
• Re-orientation of health services
• Empowering communities to achieve well-being
• Creating Supportive environments
• Developing/increasing personal skills
• Building alliances with special emphasis on the media.*

PROVISION OF EQUIPMENT: Patient about to test her pressure on equipment donated by JICA for the Health Project in Mandeville.

WELLNESS CONCEPT: Regional Technical Director of the Southern Regional Health Authority, Jamaica, Dr. Michael Coombs explains the "Wellness Concept" to participants of the Third Country Training Programme. JICA in collaboration with the SRHA conducted a five-year programme for "Strengthening the Health Care in the Southern Region of Jamaica" covering the parishes of Manchester, Clarendon and St. Elizabeth.

WELLNESS CENTRE: JICA has supported the Wellness Project at the Manchester Health Department during the Five-Year Project. Dr. Kimberley Scarlett explained the measures used to control and prevent Chronic=Non Communicable Diseases.

APPRECIATION FOR JICA's SUPPORT: JICA and the government of Japan are being commended for their support to the Wellness Programme and the fight for the Prevention and Control of Chronic Non Communicable Diseases in the Caribbean Region, by the Director of Health Promotion and Protection in the Ministry of Health, Jamaica, Dr. Eva Lewis-Fuller.

* Source: National Policy for the Promotion of Healthy Lifestyle in Jamaica – Ministry of Health, Jamaica