The Jamaican government has allocated J$759 million in the 2018-19 national budget to fund upgrade of health facilities as it seeks to reduce neonatal deaths in the country.
Under the Program for Reduction of Maternal and Child Mortality (PROMAC), designs will be completed for 11 High Dependency Units (HDUs) at six hospitals, and the procurement of equipment for the HDUs, the Andrew Holness government has indicated.
New healthcare centers and community hospitals
According to the details of the project outlined in the Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, other work to be done are the completion of designs for four healthcare facilities and two community hospitals; procurement of laboratory and ultrasound equipment for primary healthcare and community health centers; training of health workers, and research activities; and continuing training for doctors, nurses and other health professionals to support HDUs.
Academic research on the cause and risk factors of premature births will also be undertaken and the Ministry of Health will also carry out national promotional activities for the program.
The objectives of PROMAC, which is funded by the Jamaica government and the European Union (EU), are geared at reducing the incidence of neonatal deaths due to lack of access to high-dependency care, reducing maternal deaths due to lack of access to emergency obstetrics care, improving the quality of management of high-risk pregnancies at both tertiary and primary healthcare facilities.
Enhance public awareness
PROMAC also seeks to improve the population’s approach to maternal and child health, enhance public awareness and understanding of healthcare processes and patients’ rights, and strengthen the institutional capacity of the ministry and the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs).
