Jamaica

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The outbreak of COVID-19 demonstrated that infectious diseases can lead to catastrophic loss of life, disrupt global economies, and create significant setbacks within health systems. LHSS and the Government of Jamaica acknowledge the urgent need to tackle Jamaica's vulnerabilities to infectious disease threats, emphasized by the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing issues like periodic dengue outbreaks caused by endemic mosquito populations.

Since 2021, LHSS has been supporting the Government of Jamaica on various health initiatives aimed at improving multi-sectoral, public-private collaboration to strengthen the overall health system and enhance service delivery across the country. Building on an initial scope focused on the national COVID-19 response, LHSS is now collaborating with the Government of Jamaica to improve the country's preparedness and response to global health threats, especially emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) and pandemics. This effort aligns with the One Health approach, which recognizes that optimal health outcomes depend on addressing the complex links between human, animal, and environmental health.

Approach

By adopting this global perspective, the One Health initiative aims to strengthen Jamaica's resilience to health threats and promote a more integrated response strategy. This work aims to:

Strengthen the Government of Jamaica's capabilities to implement a coordinated One Health approach that connects human, animal, and environmental health.
Increase awareness of and practical skills in implementing a One Health strategy among technical experts in medicine, public health, environmental health, and veterinary medicine.
Support integrating One Health considerations into the health financing, planning, and management systems led by the Ministry of Health and the private health sector.

Progress Highlights

LHSS’s efforts to date have strengthened the leadership role of the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the ability of the private health sector to come together and support national health goals. As the former MOHW Permanent Secretary Dunstan Bryan stated at a LHSS event, “these initiatives have strengthened health systems and have enabled us to be far more resilient as we go forward as a nation.”
LHSS Jamaica administered grants totaling USD $700,000 to nine private health sector organizations including pharmacies, faith-based organizations, private medical practices, and a private health care network. These organizations administered over 16,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, contributing 20% to the Ministry's overall goal for the private health sector. Grantees also benefitted from administrative and organizational support and capacity strengthening opportunities that enabled them to meaningfully contribute to the Ministry's public health response.
LHSS' grant to Health Connect Jamaica (HCJ), a network of private providers, enabled them to expand the range of services they offer to include COVID-19 vaccines administration and case management. Under the project, HCJ onboarded 20 new providers into their network, adding to the 73 private providers currently offering free COVID-19 and HIV related services to the public. In collaboration with HCJ and the Ministry, LHSS developed a Rapid Surge Plan that outlines the actions and services that HCJ can provide to respond swiftly to new or re-emerging infectious disease outbreaks beyond COVID-19.
In partnership with the Ministry of Health and Wellness and grantees, LHSS developed a partnership manual which serves as a rubric for private health sector organizations interested in partnering with the Ministry of Health. Taking lessons from the COVID-19 response, it documents systems, processes, and protocols for public-private engagements.
LHSS worked closely with the Ministry of Health and Wellness to develop an oncology framework to guide work toward improving the health system’s capacity to address the rising incidence of cancer in Jamaica. This initiative is part of the MOHW's commitment to strengthen oncology services as a key component of Jamaica's national strategy to enhance health systems resilience and effectively address emerging health challenges. In March 2024, LHSS submitted a draft national oncology framework that provides recommendations for increasing service access and system capacities for cancer prevention, detection, and treatment.
In April 2024, LHSS supported the Ministry of Health and Wellness in leading a collaborative multi-sectoral workshop aimed at identifying Jamaica’s One Health priorities. This marked the inaugural effort to establish a coordinated One Health initiative in the country. The workshop brought together officials from various government sectors, including the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Environment, along with representatives from civil society and the private health sector. Key topics included the importance of strengthening human resources for health, improving laboratory systems, and increasing private sector engagement in health emergency responses.
In October 2024, LHSS organized a One Health workshop in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, and the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation. This workshop marked a significant milestone toward establishing a National One Health Policy. One of the key priorities that emerged from the event was the development of recommendations for formalizing a multisectoral One Health Committee. This committee would be essential in promoting cooperation and coordination for the integration of One Health across all relevant sectors.