KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – The Ministry of Health has received supplies valued at some US$103,000 (J$12.26 million) from the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), to support the immunisation, mental health, environmental health, and infection control programmes of the ministry.

The items include several computers, vaccine refrigerators, printers, hand sanitizers, hand sanitizer dispensers, and organic vapour monitors valued at US$77,400 (J$9.2 million), and information, education and communication material, such as child health development passports, immunisation flyers, polio posters, and polio prevention posters worth US$25,768 (J$3.1 million).;

In his address at the handing-over ceremony yesterday at the PAHO office at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona campus, Minister of Health Horace Dalley thanked PAHO for their unstinting support to the country’s health sector.

“We can count on PAHO/WHO. This partnership has been longstanding and will become even stronger,” he said.

Dalley informed that the ministry is in dialogue with PAHO/WHO to provide training for hospital personnel.

“Unless we train our people to the point where they become change agents in delivering health care, then all that we do will come to naught,” the minister said.

Meanwhile, permanent secretary in the ministry, Dr Kevin Harvey, said the organisation has made invaluable contributions to Jamaica’s health sector over the years.;

“When you look at what we pay to PAHO, which is under US$100,000 per year, and what we get back in terms of technical assistance, goods and services, and the partnership and support that we have had, which is valued at over US$1,000,000… there cannot be any better return,” he said.

PAHO is the leading international public health agency that provides technical cooperation to member states and mobilises partnerships to improve health and quality of life.