Health ministry to establish programme to tackle diabetes
Published:Wednesday | November 28, 2018 | 12:00 AMPaul Clarke/Gleaner Writer
The Ministry of Health is committed to establishing a National Diabetic Retinopathy Programme to combat an increase in diabetes, Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has said.
He stated that diabetic retinopathy screening and treatment will become available to all the regional health authorities by 2020.
Tufton was speaking at the launch of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Programme at the Greater Portmore Health Centre on Wednesday.
"This is another major push in the fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and their impact on the population of Jamaica. This project is intended to reduce blindness due to diabetic retinotherapy in four Commonwealth countries: Belize, Dominica, St Lucia and Jamaica," he said.
The health minister said that NCDs are "ground zero" of the national public-health system and pose a clear and present danger to the citizenry and to the prosperity, development, and growth of the country. Close to 400,000 Jamaicans suffer from diabetes, putting tremendous strain on the national health services.
"So, with this screening machine, we are able to have the people taking better care of themselves through this means," the minister said.
"It will give people from the surrounding communities and other areas an option to get screened for the potential consequences of poor lifestyle."
Tufton said the screening machine is a great addition to the complement of initiatives the health ministry seeks to get done while looking at a more comprehensive policy of dealing with eye care.
The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust is a charitable foundation with a mission to leave a lasting legacy. The trust is owned by the whole Commonwealth in honour of Her Majesty.
Also speaking at the ceremony, Dr Astrid Bonfield, the chief executive of the trust, said the screening centre will assist a large number of Jamaicans.