| Health Minister calls for more research in the area of neuroscience |
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| Monday, 01 February 2010 21:21 |
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Minister of Health, Hon. Rudyard Spencer is calling for a strengthening of research capacity and a sharing of best practices in the field of neuroscience to achieve a greater understanding of the vast complexities of the brain and its disorders. Minister Spencer was speaking at the recent Caribbean Neurosciences Symposium held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Montego Bay, St. James. “Small developing states such as Jamaica find it extremely difficult to keep abreast of technologies because we just do not have the resources. However, we can establish partnerships that will enable us to access first world technologies in areas such as Imaging.” The Minister says this is important for Jamaica for other reasons including the fact that there is an aging population, an increase in the incidence of mental health disorders that afflict the elderly and a growing number of young people being diagnosed with Depression and Schizophrenia and other mental illnesses. In addition, he says there are now increasingly complex cases as a result of injuries associated with trauma and motor vehicle crashes.Minister Spencer says it is important that practitioners across the Region share their knowledge and expertise to build capacity and strengthen collaboration across institutions and jurisdictions. “There is room for the Caribbean Region to organize itself to improve efficiency in evidence-based policy formulation, policy implementation, monitoring and evaluation and in the utilization of appropriate technologies to reduce cost and improve access to health to the Region’s peoples,” Minister Spencer said. He added that the health sector presents the best opportunity to involve people in decisions that will affect their lives and livelihoods. According to him, “this sector provides the best guarantee to reach, mobilize and influence a significant portion of our population to advance the Region’s social development.” The 8th Caribbean Neurosciences Symposium was hosted by the Department of Surgery, Radiology, Anaesthesia and Intensive Care at the University Hospital of the West Indies. This year’s event focused on the care of neurological emergencies, neurology, spine and reconstructive issues in neurosurgery.
-30- Contact: MOH, Public Relations Unit Tel: 967-1561 |