Health Sector Receives US$3 Million from Direct Relief

Jamaica has received a donation of US$3 million from the nonprofit humanitarian group, Direct Relief, which will be channeled through the National Health Fund (NHF) to strengthen the public health system.

Speaking at a handover ceremony held today (April 30) at the NHF facility on Marcus Garvey Drive in St. Andrew, Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Most Hon. Juliet Holness, said she was delighted to assist in making the donation reach the health system.

“It is a massive donation, and Jamaica will be showing the rest of the Caribbean and the world what it will be able to do with your generous donation towards improving our solar energy delivery and how it will help the health facilities,” she told the audience.

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, said the donation is an example of “investing in humanity”, while lauding Direct Relief for its work in more than 100 countries across the globe.

Dr. Tufton encouraged more local partnerships for the health sector, adding that such support has immense reach for the population, and more companies need to “recognise and appreciate” how they can impact development from contributions to a healthy society.

“We need to do more around giving back for the preservation of our people, and the preservation of the cycle that we have to exist in our environment, and I hope that the example of a Direct Relief is one that can be adopted,” the Minister said.

For his part, Chief Operating Officer with Direct Relief, Dr. Byron Scott, said the group has been supporting the health sector in Jamaica with equipment and very valuable items, and the donation is geared at creating more resilience for Jamaica and the region.

The group’s mission is to improve the lives of people in poverty or emergency situations by providing the appropriate medical resources.

The charity provides emergency medical assistance and disaster relief in the United States and internationally.