Jamaica"s health sector a national emergency, doctors say

Tuesday, January 06, 2015 | 10:29 AM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ) says it is urging the ministries of Health and Finance to jointly consult with public and private stakeholders on how to effectively and sustainably address issues affecting the nation’s health sector.

“The provision of good health care should be viewed by the Government as an investment in our citizens towards increased productivity and not simply a cost to the country,” the MAJ said in a statement in reference to two articles published by the Jamaica Observer on the 4th and 5th of January 2015 regarding the continued depressed state of public hospitals in Jamaica.

“The Medical Association of Jamaica has again noted and remains extremely concerned with these reports on the state of the country’s public hospitals.

“These stories have once again highlighted the sad and unacceptable circumstances under which patients and their relatives must access their care. This is compounded by the frustrating and demoralising conditions in which Health Professionals often provide this essential service,” the statement read.

The MAJ described the state of the health sector as a “national emergency” and said that the chronic underfunding and delayed reform of the public health sector in Jamaica is negatively affecting the outcomes of patients.

The doctors added that the personal and financial costs to patients and their families for delays, complications, pain and suffering will soon be incalculable.

“We hope that some significant improvements in the budgetary allocation to the sector will be made for the upcoming financial year (2015/16). Jamaica’s budget for public health service must be based on the health realities facing the country at this time.”

The association said that hospitals and health centres cannot function effectively or efficiently without the concomitant investment in the sector.

“We believe that the country’s stakeholders must act together and quickly to safeguard the health of our citizens. A collective and collaborative approach in addressing this challenge is the first step of many in achieving health sector reform and the sustainable financing of public health services in Jamaica.”

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Jamaica"s health sector a national emergency, doctors say

Jamaica doctors say politicising of treatment of Chikunguyna virus must stop

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Tuesday September 16, 2014, CMC – The Jamaica Medical Doctors Association (JMDA) Monday called for an end to the politcising of the measures being taken to deal with the mosquito borne Chikungunya virus.

“The health of the people is the priority for all stakeholders. We must stand as one and play our part in the eradication of Chikungunya fever. The Jamaica Medical Doctors Association will remain at the forefront of the fight against these viral illnesses and in providing information to the public,” the JMDA said in a statement.

So far Jamaica has recorded 25 confirmed cases of the virus whose main symptoms are fever and joint pain. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash.

The JMDA said that while it commended the health authorities here for dealing with the virus, the Ministry of Health needed to enhance its response to prevent a full-blown epidemic.

JMDA President Dr. Alfred Dawes said the similarity of the symptoms with dengue fever and influenza had caused confusion among the population.

“We accept the challenges in testing all reported cases of Chikungunya. Chikungunya, dengue and the flu are in the majority of cases self-limiting and respond to conservative treatment. As such testing all patients for Chikungunya is not practical and will not add much to the treatment plan in the majority of cases.”

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Dawes said the public education campaign must be intensified.

“Vector control is a major component of the fight against Chikunguyna as the aedes aegypti mosquito is endemic to Jamaica and transmits both Chikunguyna and dengue. Closer collaboration between the parish councils, Ministry of Health and Jamaicans from all walks of life in clearing drains and other breeding sites of the mosquito is needed,” he said.

Dr. Dawes said it was also important for the measures to deal with the virus are not politicised.

“We the people have a major role to play in the control of the aedes aegypti mosquito and the viral illnesses it transmits. Jamaicans united decades ago in a successful effort to rid the island of malaria and yellow fever. It is only by our actions that we can now defeat this threat and any other infectious diseases that may make their way to our shores.”

Last week, the main opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) insisted that there was a Chikungunya epidemic on the island and accused the authorities of seeking to hide the true extent of the outbreak.

JLP spokesman on health, Dr. Ken Baugh said that a series of assessment and on-the-ground visits in various communities have shown that the number given by the authorities was grossly under stated.

“Right now there are three parishes that are affected and there is no doubt that there is active transmission in large numbers,” Dr Baugh said.

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Jamaica doctors say politicising of treatment of Chikunguyna virus must stop

Doctors performing only emergency procedures at Barbados public hospital

Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Barbados (File photo)

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Tuesday July 8, 2014, CMC - Doctors at Barbados’ main public medical facility, Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), are from Tuesday performing only emergency medical procedures, owing to a shortage of supplies.

Vice President of the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners (BAMP), Dr Vikash Chatrani, said the decision to adopt the new working schedule at an emergency meeting of BAMP members on Monday.

He said that representatives of the QEH’s administration were in attendance and confirmed that the hospital was experiencing critical shortages in basic and essential supplies.

“As a result of these critical shortages BAMP was informed that the QEH would only be performing urgent and emergency surgical procedures.”

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Earlier this year, pharmaceutical providers to QEH had withdrawn their services, protesting overdue payment for goods delivered, and resumed supplies only after government paid BDS$20 million (One BDS$ = 50 US cents) into the debt account.

“It cannot be business as usual. We believe that the short-term financial injections (or) supplements have failed to rectify the serious situation that exists at the QEH, and we urge the government to immediately restore adequate levels of funding in order to prevent harm to our patients,” Dr. Chatrani said.

The government has not yet responded to the lastest action of the doctors.

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Doctors performing only emergency procedures at Barbados public hospital

Doctors still tight lipped on Schumacher

GRENOBLE, France (AFP) — Formula One legend Michael Schumacher is to turn 45 today while lying comatose in a French hospital after suffering critical head injuries in a ski accident.

Doctors and family members were tight-lipped yesterday about the condition of the German racing great, who has been hospitalised since Sunday, when he slammed his head against a rock while skiing in the French Alps.There have been conflicting statements about the speed the seven-time world racing champion was going when the tragedy befell him in the Meribel ski resort, where he has a property. The rock impact split the helmet Schumacher was wearing in two, according to a source close to the investigation.The Ferrari F1 team where Schumacher spent many years announced it would today hold a “silent gathering” in front of the Grenoble hospital to mark the birthday of the retired sportsman, who is being kept in an induced coma.But Schumacher’s fan club in his childhood town of Kerpen said any celebration of the birthday would be in bad taste.Mark Hughes fined for improper conductLONDON, England — Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has been fined 8,000 pounds ($13,100, 9,600 euros) after admitting a charge of improper conduct, the Football Association announced yesterday.The charge related to his dismissal from the touchline during Stoke’s 5-1 Premier League drubbing at Newcastle United last week.Hughes was sent to the stands after reacting angrily when Stoke midfielder Glenn Whelan was sent off for two bookable offences during the first half of the game at St James’ Park, when the visitors were 1-0 up.Stoke defender Marc Wilson was also sent off during the game.The Welshman has, however, avoided a touchline ban, meaning he will be able to take to the dug-out for his side’s FA Cup third-round tie at home to Leicester City tomorrow.Andy Murray concerned about unhealthy attitudeDOHA, Dafar (AFP) — Andy Murray wants to put a stop to the habit of putting “extreme pressure” on players, as part of a legacy for his history-making achievement in winning Wimbledon.The Scot ended a 77-year wait for a British male winner of the legendary Grand Slam event and is keen that the ensuing opportunity to learn lessons should not be missed during 2014.Murray has been concerned about unhealthy attitudes in trying to produce winners for some time, and elaborated on it at the Qatar Open where he has been preparing for the Australian Open, the new year’s first Grand Slam tournament.“I just think it got to a stage where it was desperation,” he said. “It was hoping, rather than (thinking) what are you trying to do to develop the next Wimbledon champion.“You know you could have the best system and structure in place and never get someone that wins Wimbledon.Li Na scores fighting win In Shenzhen OpenBEIJING, China (AFP) — Chinese superstar Li Na battled her way to yet another victory yesterday, downing Romania’s Monica Niculescu after three action-filled sets in the women’s singles quarter-final of the Shenzhen Open.Li, Asia’s highest-ranking player in tennis history, opened strongly, besting Niculescu 7-5 in the first set.The 26-year-old Romanian fought back with a 6-4 win in the second set, before Li toppled her with a third-set, 6-4 victory.Li, 31, is the defending Shenzhen Open champion and is also the world number three player.Her success has sparked a new Chinese interest in tennis as well as a swell of national pride. China’s state broadcaster CCTV this week named her rise its number two sports story of 2013.China notched another victory on yesterday as fifth-seed Peng Shuai soared to victory over Slovakia’s Jana Cepelova 6-3 6-2.Another Serena Williams, Sharapova clashBRISBANE, Australia, (AFP) — Serena Williams yesterday served a perfect first set on her way to setting up a blockbuster semi-final against bitter rival Maria Sharapova at the Brisbane International.The top-seeded Williams did not lose a point on serve during the opening set of her comprehensive 6-3, 6-3 win over Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova.In stark contrast to Williams, Sharapova was forced to recover from an error-strewn start before eventually downing 2012 champion Kaia Kanepi in three sets 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.The second semi-final will be between second seed Victoria Azarenka, who survived a second-set meltdown when she blew eight match points to beat Swiss Stefanie Voegele 6-4, 6-7 (7-9), 6-1, and fourth seed Jelena Jankovic.Jankovic was a 6-7 (8/10), 6-3, 6-1 winner over Germany’s Angelique Kerber.Friday’s semi-final between Williams and Sharapova will be the 17th meeting between the two superstars of the women’s game, who make no secret of their frosty personal relationship.Taufel says new review system works betterABU DHABI, UAE (AFP) — Simon Taufel, five-time umpire of the year, yesterday said a new trialled system will help attain more accuracy and save time on refered decisions during international cricket matches.The International Cricket Council (ICC) is trialling a new review system, called Officiating Replay System (ORS), in which a non-match umpire is provided with direct replays during a match.ICC introduced the Decision Review System (DRS) in 2008 on a trial basis. The system allows both teams to challenge decisions made by on-field umpires and have them referred to the TV official.The new system, aimed at further improving the prevalent DRS, was first trialled earlier this year in the Old Trafford Test in the Ashes between Australia and England, and then in the fifth one-day international between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi last week.The trial continues during the ongoing first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi as well as the remaining two Tests in that series.Toronto Raptors snap Pacers’ winning streakTORONTO, Canada (AFP) — Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan scored 26 points and sparked a fourth-quarter run Wednesday that lifted the Toronto Raptors to a 95-82 victory over Indiana, snapping the Pacers’ six-game winning streak.The Pacers fell to 25-6, leaving them level with Oklahoma City for the best record in the NBA with San Antonio and Portland on 25-7 and defending NBA champion Miami at 24-7.The Raptors improved to 15-15 on the season, boosting their lead atop the Atlantic division with their fourth win in a row and eighth in 10 games.Toronto ended the first quarter on a 13-6 run for a 26-18 edge, but the Pacers outscored the Raptors 26-14 in the second quarter for a 44-40 half-time advantage.Toronto battled back and took a 66-63 lead into the fourth quarter thanks to a John Salmons 3-pointer.With the game knotted at 74-74, the Raptors went on a 14-3 run to seize command, DeRozan scoring eight points in the spurt for an 88-77 edge with 2:54 remaining and the Pacers never came close again.Terrence Ross scored 18 points for the Raptors while Kyle Lowry added 13 points and 14 assists and Lithuanian centre Jonas Valanciunas had 13 points and nine rebounds. DeRozan also grabbed nine rebounds.Oscar dived, says MourinhoSOUTHAMPTON, (AFP) — Jose Mourinho revealed Oscar admitted diving in a failed attempt to win a penalty and get Southampton goalkeeper Kelvin Davis sent off in Chelsea’s 3-0 win at St Mary’s.Brazil midfielder Oscar had only been on the pitch for a matter of seconds after replacing Juan Mata when he went into the book for his theatrics and Blues manager Mourinho made it clear he thought referee Martin Atkinson had made the right decision.Oscar then went on to set up Fernando Torres for Chelsea’s first goal and scored the third himself after fellow Brazilian Willian had made it 2-0.Asked about Oscar’s dive, Mourinho added: “It was a fair yellow card. I don’t like it but his explanation to me I also accept.“He said to me; ‘When I saw the goalkeeper coming I was thinking ‘penalty, red card, goodbye’ and the goalkeeper – he is a 35 or 36-year-old man (Davis is 37) with lots of experience — thought ‘I am going to stop’.“Oscar found himself in a moment of contradiction — and we are speaking about fractions of a second — where he thinks ‘contact, penalty, red card’ and there was certainly no contact.“Oscar is a clean player who was waiting for the goalkeeper to come and smash him because that’s what normally happens in those situations.”Arsenal is strong—  WengerLONDON, England (AFP) — Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes that his side have now provided evidence of the strength and spirit required to end their long wait for a Premier League title.It is nine years since Arsenal last won a trophy and 10 years since they won the league, but the last-gasp 2-0 New Year’s Day win over Cardiff City confirmed their credentials as championship contenders.While Manchester City and Chelsea remain on their coattails, Arsenal continue to defy those expecting them to fall away.With time almost up and the game against Cardiff looking beyond them, goals from substitute Nicklas Bendtner and Theo Walcott secured a win that kept them at the top of the table.It was a game that Arsenal might have lost or drawn in recent campaigns, but this is a different side.“We have a good togetherness in the side,” said Wenger.“The players come on with the right attitude and that makes the difference. You know that if you do not have that in the championship, then you have no chance to do it.“We have that in the squad. We have to take care of that spirit and show it in every game.”

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Doctors still tight lipped on Schumacher

68 Cuba-trained doctors join health sector tomorrow

A batch of 68 doctors, who finished training recently in Cuba, will be deployed into Jamaica’s health sector starting tomorow.

The doctors, all Jamaicans, represent the latest and largest batch of medical graduates to have been trained in the Socialist Republic since the Cuba/Jamaica Bilateral Programme began over 30 years ago.The doctors, who graduated from the University of Santiago de Cuba’s medical faculty in July, will be deployed to hospitals across the island, with the bulk of them assigned to the Kingston Public Hospital and the Cornwall Regional Hospital, as well as the Spanish Town Hospital, May Pen Hospital, Mandeville General Hospital, St Ann’s Bay Hospital, Savanna-la-Mar Hospital, and Annotto Bay Hospital.Graduate Heron Grant is anxiously awaiting the day when he will be able to give back to residents in his community in Byndloss, Linstead, St Catherine, by offering affordable and quality care to children.The 27-year-old doctor said he also plans to positively impact the locals there, so “as soon as I am able I would like to see how I can serve my community in paediatrics and make it as affordable as possible”.Grant and his collegues spent seven years at the university.The newly trained doctors were officially welcomed and congratulated by Health Minister Fenton Ferguson and outgoing Cuban Ambassador Yuri Gala Lopez during a reception hosted by the ministry of health at its office in downtown Kingston on Thursday.Minister Ferguson, who abandoned his speech and instead opted to have a conversation with the doctors, urged them to display the skills that they had learned and to add value to the current work of the local doctors.The minister also implored the doctors to recognise that their position comes with tremendous responsibility and urged them to serve with humility.“I know that many of you want to wear that doctor (title) on your forehead but that’s not it, that is just like a person who walks around and boasts that he is a Christian and Christianity must be manifested,” he said.“Being a good doctor should be manifested by your compassion, how you see your patients, how serious you take your oath. It’s not about how quickly you’re going to drive the Mercedes Benz or live in Cherry Gardens or Beverly Hills,” Ferguson stated.He advised the doctors that once they are steadfast and have a sense of mission and fixity of purpose, all the material things that they desire will be achieved.“Becoming a doctor is a great achievement, but becoming a servant of the people is a greater achievement,” said the minister, who also expressed gratitude to the Cuban Government.Ambassador Gala Lopez for his part said that Cuba is committed to continue assisting Jamaica.Over 200 Jamaican students are currently studying in Cuban universities as a result of the programme, Gala Lopez said.The ambassador said that although the current economic condition had impacted the programme, it will not be discontinued, as four students left the island in July to study medicine.“For Cuba, it is not just giving others what we have to spare, but moderately sharing with them the little resources that we have,” he said.Chief medical officer in the health ministry, Dr Michael Coombs, told the doctors that they were joining the health system at a critical time, but urged them to call on God for guidance and strength when the job becomes too much for them to bear.Dr Matthew Lloyd O’Connor expressed gratitude to the Cuban and Jamaican government which made their studies possible.“The group is determined to revolutionise medicine in Jamaica and in the Caribbean. We have decided to turn our backs on the commonplace and the ordinary and drastically improve health care across the 14 parishes of the island,” Dr O’Connor said.Dr Jean Dixon, permanent secretary in the ministry of health, shares a light moment with Dr Shaneque Thompson and Dr John Neville Wright during a reception hosted for the doctors at the ministry of health in downtown Kingston.Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson welcomes doctors (from left) Tionette Allen, Kerri Young, Alicia Webster and Kristoffer Williams during a reception hosted for the doctors at the Ministry of Health in downtown Kingston on Thursday. Beside Dr Ferguson is outgoing Cuban Ambassador to Jamaica Yuri Gala Lopez. (PHOTOS: JOSEPH WELLINGTON)

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68 Cuba-trained doctors join health sector tomorrow