| US Ambassador Commends Health Ministry for Strides made in Mother to Child Transmission |
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| Wednesday, 08 February 2012 06:45 |
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US Ambassador Pamela E. Bridgewater commended the Ministry’s efforts in the fight against HIV, in particular, strides made in lowering mother to child transmission. She was speaking during a courtesy to Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, Minister of Health, at the Ministry’s head office in downtown Kingston on Wednesday, January 25. Jamaica has managed to reduce the prevalence of mother to child transmission to less than 5 percent from a prevalence of more than 25 percent in 2004.
Dr. Ferguson thanked the United States Government for the assistance given in the area of HIV over the years through its PREFAR programme. He pointed out that funding for the National HIV/STI programme will be reduced in a couple of years from donor agencies and plans are now being made to source adequate funding to prolong the life of the programme.
Minister Ferguson noted the need to implement sustainable mechanisms to manage and maintain the National HIV Programme in keeping with the UNAIDS “Three ones” principle. In this regard elements of the present programme will be integrated in the programme of the National Family Planning Board to establish a single authority.
The Minister and the US Ambassador renewed the commitment of their specific governments to collaborate in the ongoing efforts to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS.
-30- Contact: MOH, Public Relations Unit Tel: 967-1561 You can view this press release and other information on our website at www.moh.gov.jm |