Fri | Nov 22, 2024

JASL launches mobile healthcare service

Published:Wednesday | July 17, 2024 | 12:05 AM
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Project coordinator at JASL, Nicola Sybliss-McLeod, expounds on the One Life, One Health Project implementation thus far.
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Project coordinator at JASL, Nicola Sybliss-McLeod, expounds on the One Life, One Health Project implementation thus far.
JASL board member Gervais McLeod brings remarks on behalf of JASL Executive Director Kandasi Walton-Levermore.
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JASL board member Gervais McLeod brings remarks on behalf of JASL Executive Director Kandasi Walton-Levermore.
From left: Desmond Campbell, regional programmes manager for JASL Montego Bay; Gervais McLeod, JASL board member; Dr Jennifer Brown-Tomlinson, JASL medical director; Sue-Anne Wallace-Brown, associate director at EpiC Jamaica; Nicola Sybliss-McLeod, JASL pr
Contributed
From left: Desmond Campbell, regional programmes manager for JASL Montego Bay; Gervais McLeod, JASL board member; Dr Jennifer Brown-Tomlinson, JASL medical director; Sue-Anne Wallace-Brown, associate director at EpiC Jamaica; Nicola Sybliss-McLeod, JASL project coordinator; Althea Spence, project management specialist at USAID; Jeremy Taglieri from USAID; and Nilfia Hazel-Anderson, regional programmes manager for JASL St Ann is in a jubilant mood as they cut the ribbon for the two One Life, One Health Mobile Health Units. These units, which have been retrofitted to include a nurses station and doctor examination room, will offer screenings and a range of health services, bringing healthcare directly to those who might otherwise go without.
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JAMAICA AIDS Support for Life (JASL) has introduced the One Life, One Health project, a transformative effort aimed at enhancing health outcomes and raising awareness about epidemic-prone infectious diseases across Jamaica.

This innovative project leverages mobile health units to deliver critical healthcare services to underserved urban and rural communities.

In the tranquil community of Mile End in Lodge, St Ann, the One Life, One Health initiative was celebrated as a godsend by local residents at the launch event held on Friday at the Lodge Community Centre. The project’s mission is to provide accessible healthcare and promote healthy behaviours through mobile clinics, health worker training, and tailored awareness campaigns.

The One Life, One Health project, funded by USAID Global Health Security initiative, embodies a blended approach to healthcare delivery, targeting both urban and rural areas based on risk factors, population density, and educational levels.

In densely populated urban communities, the project focuses on improving disease surveillance, enhancing healthcare access, and promoting healthy behaviours. In rural areas, where healthcare access is often limited, the project addresses these challenges through mobile clinics and community health worker training.

A cornerstone of the One Life, One Health initiative is the deployment of JASL’s mobile health units. These units, funded by EPIC Jamaica, are equipped to offer a variety of health services, including screenings for diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol, HIV, and syphilis. They also provide access to medical doctors, wellness workshops, and educational resources. By bringing these services directly to the communities, the mobile units play a crucial role in ensuring fair access to healthcare, particularly for those in remote or underserved areas.

Significant step

The launch of the One Life, One Health project marks a significant step forward in community health engagement. Residents of Lodge and surrounding areas now have immediate access to the mobile clinic services, which aim to provide comprehensive health assessments and screenings. This initiative not only addresses immediate health concerns but also promotes long-term health awareness and proactive management practices within the community.

By combining urban and rural strategies, the One Life, One Health project aims to reduce community vulnerability to infectious diseases and improve overall health outcomes. The project builds on JASL’s equity principles, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their location or socio-economic status, have access to essential health services. This holistic approach enhances JASL’s core functions and provides a more comprehensive model for healthcare delivery, using HIV programming as a foundation for broader health services.

At the launch event, JASL board member Gervais McLeod brought remarks on behalf of JASL Executive Director Kandasi Walton-Levermore. He emphasised the significance of the mobile health units in bringing healthcare directly to those who might otherwise go without.

“Today, immediately following this launch, the residents of Lodge and the surrounding communities will have the opportunity to access these mobile clinic services,” he said.

Nicola Sybliss McLeod, project coordinator at JASL, highlighted that the One Life One Health Project is a full integration into JASL’s everyday services as it expands beyond HIV into non-communicable diseases, zoonotics, and other emerging infectious diseases extending to underserved communities islandwide.

“One Life One Health aims to disseminate accurate information, counter misinformation, facilitate community listening, and promote behaviour change. We will engage local communities like Lodge while empowering them to take an active role in safeguarding their health,”she said.

Since its implementation in April 2024, One Life, One Health has engaged over 10 rural and inner-city communities in the parishes of St Andrew, Clarendon, Kingston, St Ann, Westmoreland, and St James, providing access to mobile clinic services and risk communication information to over 600 persons.

The event was attended by representatives from USAID, EPIC Jamaica, Ministry of Health, and North East Regional Health Authority.