U.S. Ambassador Makes Courtesy Call on Dr. Christopher Tufton

United States Ambassador to Jamaica His Excellency Luis G. Moreno paid a courtesy call on Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton today at the Ministry of Health to discuss further strengthening collaborations with Jamaica and the United States.

Ambassador Moreno said “the United States is one of the closest collaborators with Jamaica and there is great value in the partnerships between the United States Government and Ministry of Health through our agencies USAID and the CDC”.

Ambassador Moreno highlighted the role the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has played in controlling the HIV epidemic in the Caribbean and particularly Jamaica and pointed to the need for countries to now adapt early initiation of HIV drugs as a further push to end the epidemic.

Dr. Tufton thanked Ambassador Moreno for the unwavering support of the United States Government not just to health but to other sectors of the society. He went on to highlight areas for continued bilateral cooperation such as the fight against infectious diseases like H1N1 and Zika virus. Dr. Tufton said “improving the national surveillance system and establishing electronic platforms linked to the rest of the Caribbean could enhance early detection of outbreaks”.

The meeting also included the Deputy Chief of Mission, Elizabeth Lee Martinez, Country Director for USAID, Denise Herbol, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Kevin Harvey and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Winston De La Haye.