Focus on Human Resources on World Health Day, April 7

World Health Day will be observed tomorrow, April 7, under the theme: ‘Working Together for Health’, which focuses on human resources in health.
As in previous years, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has established the focus, and for this year, the organisation felt there was a pressing need to highlight the various challenges being faced by the human resources in the health sector.
These challenges include decades of under investment in the education of health sector workers as well as in the areas of training, salaries, working environment and management.
This situation, according to the WHO, has led to a severe lack of skills, rising levels of career switching and early retirement, in addition to national and international migration.
By focusing on human resources in health, the WHO is hoping to increase awareness of the indispensable role of health workers and the importance of partnership in health.
The new Minister of Health, Horace Dalley, shares the importance of this focus as in his message, he has lauded the efforts of the health sector workers, despite the various challenges that they face.
“Jamaica is blessed with a cadre of dedicated and committed healthcare staff that is second to none. Not only are they highly trained, they are extremely skilled and professionally oriented. We owe a debt of gratitude to health workers everywhere, especially those in our homeland,” he said in his message to observe the day.
In the meantime, the Ministry of Health kicked off the celebrations today (April 6), with a supplement in the Daily Gleaner and an outside broadcast with Radio Jamaica (RJR) from the grounds of the Spanish Town Hospital.
Activities for April 7 include an official launch at the Ministry of Health on King Street, which starts at 10:00 a.m. Persons are also invited to view a World Health Day display in the lobby of the Ministry, in addition to participating in an interactive health session with Dr. Peter Swaby from Hope Worldwide, which is slated for 11:00 a.m.
Prior to these events, a World Health Day outside broadcast will take place in collaboration with KLAS from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Persons may also listen to a World Health Day feature scheduled to be aired on KLAS between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
The observation of World Health Day will culminate with a church service at Fellowship Tabernacle located on Half-Way-Tree Road, on April 9, beginning at 11:00 a.m.