The Jamaican diaspora has committed almost $100 million to over 30 health centers in Jamaica through the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ adopt-a-clinic program.
Started in 2017, the program allows for donors in Jamaica and overseas to provide medical assistance and funds to maintain any of the 100 health centers in Jamaica that are part of the program. The island has a total of 350 health centers.
Since its launch, 47 health centers across the island have been adopted, with commitment of more than $195 million. Thirty-one health centers have been adopted by members of the diaspora, who have so far committed $94.5 million. Sixteen have been adopted by local private sector groups, who have committed $103 million thus far. Currently, at least six other facilities are in the process of being adopted.
A total of four clinics have been adopted by the Southern USA Diaspora under the auspices of Jamaica’s Consul General for the Southern USA, Oliver Mair.
Read: Southern USA Diaspora adopts four clinics in rural Jamaica
Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says the government wants to continue to leverage philanthropic support from the private sector and diaspora to improve the nation’s primary health care system.
“Strategic alignment has always been part of our operations in public health, be it through international partners, diaspora members or local private sector or voluntary players,” Dr. Tufton noted.
“The Adopt-A-Clinic Programme has been one of the driving forces that enable individuals and groups to contribute to the improvement of health care service delivery at the primary-care level,” he added.
Assistance not only for major upgrades
The donor support not only helps to assist with major upgrades of the health centers, but minor maintenance and repairs as well.
“For us, the adoption is not just about the commitment to give cash or kind… the intention is not to build buildings from the proceeds of the adoption, but to address the small but important things for the day-to-day functioning of a facility like this,” Dr. Tufton noted.
Read: Jamaica’s Adopt-a-Clinic Program Gaining Traction Within Diaspora
This was echoed by the Executive Director of the Ministry’s Health for Life and Wellness Foundation, Courtney Cephas, who explained where the funds are directed.
“There are three areas that funding support goes towards minor infrastructure improvement, a roof might need repairs, electricals, retiling, etc. There is repainting, and then the third area is equipment that the doctors and the nurses use to treat patients. So we are talking about blood pressure machines, that sort of thing,” he said in a previous interview.
“There are also facility-type equipment, ACs, fans, water tanks, refrigerators, microwaves, and so on. So those are the critical areas where the support is focused and by nature, those things improve access and the quality of service at the health centres,” he explained.
Cephas anticipates that by 2024, the goal of having 100 health centres adopted across the island will be realised.
