Jamaica’s Health Ministry (PAHO) and(CARPHA) to develop strategies to address the increase in violence related injuries
WASHINGTON, DC – Jamaica’s Health Minister, Dr. Fenton Ferguson says his ministry will be partnering with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) to develop clear strategies to address the increase in violence related injuries which is impacting the health sector.
Dr. Fenton, who is also the chairman of CARPHA, addressed members of the board along with US State Representatives within the health sector at a special meeting held in Washington DC on Thursday, January 31, where he pointed out that violence related injuries is a major public health problem that is facing the Health Ministry at this time. He said that solutions were needed to deal with this problem.
“When people think of violence related injuries in the society, they often think of motor vehicle crashes, violence from gunshots or bodily harm caused from the use of an implement. Very rarely do they think of the impact that these types of injuries have on the health sector in general, but particularly the hospital system. A survey that was conducted, showed that at the Kingston Public Hospital the financial impact was somewhere in the region of two billion dollars annually.”
The Health Minister further pointed out that as a result of the increasing numbers of violence related injuries, one in three planned surgeries have had to be postponed to address medical emergencies which arise from such injuries.
Dr. Fenton said that both the government and his ministry were concerned about this trend. In addition to the increase in the number of these violence related injuries, the hospitals have had to cover the cost of treating many of these patients who are themselves unable to cover their medical bills. The cost of surgery and the length of stay in the hospital are expensive and so all of these factors taken together are having a significant impact.
Health Minister and Chairman of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Dr. Fenton Ferguson (center), addresses members of the board along with US State Representatives within the health sector, at a meeting held on Thursday, January 31, 2013 at the headquarters of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
(Photo credit to Derrick Scott)
“I would argue that this increase in violence related injuries is having a significant national impact, particularly in eight hospitals, said Dr. Fenton. He postulated that if in general, violence related injuries are on the rise, then it would be reasonable to argue that the increase in cost to the hospitals must be a major figure relative to the overall sector.
Dr. Fenton said that the year 2012 saw a reduction in certain areas of crime and violence which resulted from some measures that he put in place as health minister. In particular, a representative from the national health safety council, Dr. Lutchen Jones was appointed to sit on and work with members of the national health fund board. The progress he says came from the collaborative work of his ministry along with the national security ministry, the national road safety and national health fund boards in the areas of public education and awareness and road safety. The Minister said he will continue to work with PAHO and (CARPHA) in bringing focus to the impact of violence related injuries on the health sector and to find solutions.
