Minister of Health, Hon. Rudyard Spencer has appealed for the support of healthcare professionals to successfully undertake transformative work in the health sector. “The Government alone cannot accomplish the goals of broadening access to health care in a sustainable way. Our health care professionals must understand that there is more at stake than preserving status quo.  No nation can grow and develop if its citizens do not have access to quality health care.  A sick nation is a poor nation.  There is a lot to be done to move the country forward.  We rely on our staff on the frontline to give of their best,” he said.

 Minister Spencer was speaking at the official launch of the Intensive Care Unit and Chemotherapy Suite at the Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay on Thursday, March 4, 2010. He said the focus of the Health Ministry for the upcoming financial year will be to consolidate the gains made and continue to implement those priority projects and programmes that were started.

 “The main areas of focus for us will be achieving malaria free status and controlling the outbreak of other vector borne  and parasitic diseases, strengthening surveillance systems for effective response to emerging and re-emerging health conditions, continue with Primary Health Care Renewal and complete the renovation of approximately 180 health centres with the assistance of the National Health Fund,” said Minister Spencer.

He said to support these the Ministry will be re-establishing a central Epidemiology Unit and implementing a new policy to rotate new Registered Nurses through the Primary Health Care system.

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Contact: MOH, Public Relations Unit Tel: 967-1561