Executive Director of the National Healthcare Enhancement Foundation (NHEF), Courtney Cephas, is encouraging members of the Jamaican Diaspora to channel donations to the public health sector through the Foundation to ensure efficiency, transparency and accountability.
Cephas made the appeal while addressing a virtual forum hosted by Jamaica’s Consul General to Miami, Oliver Mair, on April 8, noting that the NHEF is the Ministry of Health and Wellness agency responsible for mobilising and managing philanthropic support for the public health system.
He urged potential donors to make direct contact with the organisation, explaining that doing so would allow contributions to be processed more smoothly and directed to intended beneficiaries without delays.
Reflecting on past disaster response efforts, Cephas highlighted the Foundation’s critical role following Hurricane Melissa last October. He explained that the NHEF coordinated a significant portion of incoming aid, including medical missions, field hospitals and donated supplies, ensuring that items were cleared and distributed efficiently across the island.
Cephas also commended Consul General Mair and members of the Jamaican diaspora in the southern United States for their strong support under the Adopt-a-Clinic Programme. He disclosed that 17 of Jamaica’s 59 adopted health centres have benefited from contributions from that region, including six facilities supported directly through initiatives led by the Consul General.
According to Cephas, the six health centres supported through the Consul General’s efforts have received commitments totalling approximately $18 million, while an additional 11 facilities supported by other diaspora groups account for another $30 million. In total, Diaspora South has contributed roughly $40 million towards improving primary healthcare facilities across Jamaica.
He noted that the funds have been used to procure critical clinical equipment such as blood pressure machines, scales and autoclaves, as well as to upgrade infrastructure with air-conditioning units, storage facilities and improved patient seating areas.
Cephas further reported that Hurricane Melissa caused an estimated US$8.8 billion in damage, representing 41 per cent of Jamaica’s gross domestic product, with western parishes among the hardest hit. He added that 65 of the 101 health centres assessed sustained major to severe damage, and efforts are now under way to rebuild them to more resilient standards.
He also pointed to new opportunities for diaspora engagement, including special adoption initiatives for heavily damaged facilities, maternal and early childhood health programmes, and planned tele-mental health services.
Cephas encouraged Jamaicans overseas to participate in the upcoming Diaspora Conference, where additional opportunities for collaboration and support for Jamaica’s public health sector will be explored.
