NHF: We didn’t know Market Me backed Jamaica Moves

The National Health Fund (NHF), in a statement issued Monday, said that board members were aware, at the beginning of her directorship, that Lyndsey McDonnough was a co-director for Market Me because she was required to declare interest initially.

The NHF reiterated that “the Ministry of Health & Wellness was responsible for the procurement of the contract for Jamaica Moves and the NHF did not control the procurement process, nor sign a contract with the marketing consultants”.

However, the Fund’s responses to questions from The Sunday Gleaner were clear that the Fund was not aware that Market Me would have been the consultants driving the Jamaica Moves project when funding was sought for the health initiative.

Below are questions asked of Shermaine Robotham, director, health promotions and public relations at the Fund, last Friday:

1. When did Lyndsey McDonnough resign as a board member of the NHF?

Ms Lyndsey McDonnough attended her last board meeting on January 25, 2017. She tendered her resignation from the board on February 15, 2017.

2. When did the NHF approve funding for the Jamaica Moves programme?

The NHF board approved funding to the Ministry of Health for the first Jamaica Moves programme on February 22, 2017.

3. Did Ms McDonnough declare her interest in Jamaica Moves prior to the NHF’s approval?

3b. If yes, when did she do so?

4. Did the NHF raise any concerns about Ms McDonnough’s interest in Jamaica Moves given her board position?

The board minutes do not reflect that Ms McDonnough declared her interest prior to her resignation and she was not a member of the board on February 22, 2017, when the approval was granted to the Ministry of Health for the Jamaica Moves programme. Note that the grant request from the Ministry of Health for the Jamaica Moves programme made no mention of Market Me as the marketing consultant for this programme.

5. Were you a member of evaluation committee for the first Jamaica Moves contract with Market Me?

No. I was not a member of the evaluation committee for the first Jamaica Moves contract with Market Me. Therefore, I am not able to answer the other questions below.

NOTE: The Jamaica Moves programme is an initiative of the MoH&W and the contracting of any marketing firm for its health promotion programmes is conducted by the Ministry. NHF provides funding in keeping with its mission. A grant of J$15 million was provided to the ministry to support the first Jamaica Moves programme.

5b. Who were the other members?

6. If you were a member, what were the criteria used to assess the proposal?

7. Were there any concerns raised about the proposal?