IHR Recommendations to Enhance Jamaica’s Health Security

Recommendations emerging from the International Health Regulations (IHR) Voluntary External Evaluation (VEE) will help guide efforts to strengthen Jamaica’s capacity to prevent, detect and respond to public health threats, in line with the International Health Regulations (2005).

The evaluation involved a rigorous assessment of the public health sector’s core capacities under the IHR, as well as the National Expanded Programme on Immunisation, with the External Evaluation Mission Team subsequently presenting its key findings and recommendations.

The Mission brought together international experts and representatives from across the Government, underscoring the multisectoral nature of public health preparedness.

A total of 110 recommendations were made based on analyses of key indicators, Jamaica’s self-assessment report, technical discussions, site visits, and current national capacities.

The process involved an objective and collaborative examination of systems, policies, capacities, and practices.

The exercise concluded with a closing ceremony at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston on Friday (September 18).

In remarks delivered on his behalf by Director of Emergency Disaster Management and Special Services at the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr. Nicole Dawkins Wright, Permanent Secretary, Dunstan Bryan, said the assessment identified several areas requiring targeted intervention over the next three to six years.

He noted that the priority areas include infection prevention and control, zoonotic diseases, human resources for health service delivery, and preparedness for complex hazards, including chemical incidents and radiation emergencies.

Mr. Bryan said the assessment also revealed the need for continued strengthening of Jamaica’s public health system, particularly in areas such as laboratory capacity for specialist functions, including genomic surveillance and antimicrobial resistance testing; laboratory regulation; risk communication; subnational capacities, and simulation-based preparedness.

“The findings tell us that we have a strong foundation on which to build. Our assessment identified important strengths across Jamaica’s health security architecture, including our national surveillance system… our commitment to primary healthcare. These findings give us clarity. The responsibility before us is therefore to translate these findings into practical action through evidence-based structure for planning, investment, strengthening governance, training, coordination and continuous monitoring,” the Permanent Secretary stated.

Beyond the Ministry, Jamaica’s implementation of the IHR involves a range of sectors, including agriculture, environment, transport, tourism, national security, foreign affairs, and science and technology.

In his address, World Health Organization (WHO)/Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Country Representative for Jamaica, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, Ian Stein, said health security is a shared responsibility that requires sustained collaboration across sectors, institutions and all levels of society.

“WHO/PAHO remains fully committed to accompanying Jamaica in this next phase. We will use our plan as a practical mechanism to align the organisations with the priorities emerging from the VEE. We will work to ensure there is an immediate follow up, and that it contributes to the Jamaica’s longer term health priorities into a coherent and sustainable approach towards health security and immunisation,” he remarked.