Local Health System Sustainability Project
Jamaica
Jamaica reported its first case of COVID-19 on March 10, 2020 and has since recorded more than 90,000 cases and 2,300 deaths as of November 17, 2021. The country’s third wave—fueled by new variants and the re-opening of the tourism sector—is levelling the most serious threat to health system capacity. In this context, challenges remain to effectively respond to the pandemic and maintain essential health services.
LHSS is working with the government of Jamaica and private sector stakeholders to leverage existing private sector models to reduce the strain on the public sector and strengthen the country’s COVID-19 response. We are working to:
- Increase equitable access to and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines
- Address vaccine hesitancy
- Reduce morbidity and mortality from COVID-19
- Reinforce private health sector resiliency to effectively respond to the pandemic while maintaining essential health services
Our work will expand access to vaccinations among vulnerable and low-income populations through the private sector, vaccinate populations who prefer to receive a vaccine from their private provider, and more effectively leverage the private sector in both the current and future health emergencies.
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Articles, Blogs, and Stories
Articles, Blogs, and Stories
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SUCCESS STORYSince vaccines became available in 2021, only 26 percent of Jamaicans have been vaccinated – a far cry from the country’s goal of 65 percent by March 2022. Religious communities were among the victims of the misinformation causing vaccine hesitancy, with many of the country’s Christians believing the vaccines represented “the mark of the beast.” In response, the government called on church leaders to play a more prominent role in the country’s vaccination effort.
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NEWSOn Friday, February 25, LHSS Jamaica hosted a signing ceremony with the Jamaica Ministry of Health and Wellness and USAID to launch the Private Sector COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Partnership.
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SUCCESS STORYWith a grant from LHSS, the Jamaican health care firm Online Medics is supporting the government’s COVID-19 vaccination effort while gaining valuable new business capacities. “LHSS allowed me to think in the long term – where I wanted my company to go and what I need to do to get it there,” says owner Alex Tracey.
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Publications and Other Resources
Publications and Other Resources
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PUBLICATIONLHSS conducted this rapid assessment to better understand the current and potential role of the private health sector in Jamaica's COVID-19 response.
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PUBLICATIONThe LHSS Jamaica Grants Strategy guides implementation of the grants-under-contract component of the LHSS Jamaica activity, with the goal of increasing the capacity of local organizations to prepare, obtain, and manage successful health systems strengthening projects and activities.
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PUBLICATIONThis communications strategy outlines how the LHSS team will support the private sector providers in implementing their communication plans.