Signature Ceremony IDB Support of GOJ CHIK V and EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE Preparedness Programme
By: , December 19, 2014The Key Point:
Photo: JIS
Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips (centre), introduces Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) President, Luis Alberto Moreno (left), to Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, during Friday’s (December 19) signing of an agreement at the Ministry in Kingston, formalizing the IDB’s provision of US$250,000 in grant funding to support institutional strengthening of the Ministry of Health, to improve national surveillance, prevention and control of infectious diseases. This will be undertaken through the establishment of an institutional coordination mechanism, development of strategies, and implementation of specific actions in response to the potential threat of the Ebola virus, and to control the current Chikungunya Virus (Chik-V) outbreak.The Facts
- The Agreement, provides for the allocation of US250,000 of grant resources which are available for the Special Programme for Employment, Poverty Reduction and Social Development in Support of the Millennium Development Goals.
- This support will improve our national surveillance systems, establish an institutional coordination mechanism, develop strategies and implement specific actions to prepare for the potential threat of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and control the current outbreak of the Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV).
The Full Story
The Government of Jamaica (GOJ) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) signed an Agreement today to support the institutional strengthening of the Ministry of Health. This support will improve national surveillance, prevention and control of infectious diseases.
The Agreement, provides for the allocation of US250,000 of grant resources which are available for the Special Programme for Employment, Poverty Reduction and Social Development in Support of the Millennium Development Goals. This support will improve our national surveillance systems, establish an institutional coordination mechanism, develop strategies and implement specific actions to prepare for the potential threat of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and control the current outbreak of the Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV).
“The Government of Jamaica recognises and appreciates IDB’s continuous support for the Government’s social programmes, and in particular, this grant, which will strengthen the public health capacity within the Ministry of Health, to prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases, with principal focus of ChikV and EVD,” Minister of Finance and Planning, Peter Phillips said at today’s Signing Ceremony.
The Executing Agency for the grant is the Ministry of Health and this will also provide needed support to the development and implementation of a communication strategy and public education programme. The grant will also facilitate the continuation of the programme already underway and supports the establishment of Emergency Response Centers which includes, training of rapid response teams, supply of protective gears, equipment and materials for the emergency response centres.
Minister Fenton Ferguson said, “He was happy for the support received from the IDB of the programme geared towards the reduction of spread of the Chikungunya Virus and also to bolster the island’s preparedness in the event of an Ebola outbreak.”
Chikungunya is a viral disease spread by mosquitoes that causes fever and severe joint pains. It is spread to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. The Ebola virus is an infectious and generally fatal disease whose normal host species is unknown.