Programmes To Enhance Health Promotion To Roll Out This Year Tufton

Health and Welfare Minister Dr Christopher Tufton (left, front row), Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland, Casey (second left, front row) with colleagues at the 35th Ministerial Joint Health Meeting on Sunday, May 20 in Geneva, Switzerland. Commonwealth Health Minister. (Photo: JIS)

Kingston, Jamaica There are plans to launch two new health promotion programs in Jamaica this year through education and screening.

Speaking at the 35th Commonwealth Health Ministers' Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, the department's minister, Dr Christopher Tufton, said the initiative was led by the Department of Health and Safety.

Tufton explained that these commitments are part of Jamaica's efforts to achieve universal health coverage through the use of the primary health care system.

This is in line with target 3.8 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The first program, the Know Your Number campaign, uses mobile services to educate people in their communities and workplaces, refer them to primary health care centers, and provide essential screening for priority diseases where they are. .

Tufton explained that the campaign will target "hard-to-reach" demographic groups, including men and youth.

Another initiative is a lifelong health promotion and prevention approach in primary health care centres.

With this commitment, people who participate in these institutions face health problems related to their stage of life, and a campaign is being conducted to raise awareness of screening and health care requirements at each stage.

Tufton said the campaign gives the department an opportunity to tap into an active community that typically visits prenatal and early childhood health centers.

"It is important to maintain this relationship with the people so that they can expect benefits in the future," he said.

The minister added that this will enable early detection of problems in all areas of life, and that they usually get worse without early intervention.

Tufton said the campaign provides an opportunity for early discussion and research into mental health issues affecting the nation's youth and seniors in an environment where the issue is not feared or stigmatized.

- GIS

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