COVID-19 response one of Jamaica’s greatest accomplishments, says Minister Tufton

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, has hailed Jamaica’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic as one of the country’s greatest recent achievements.

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Addressing the official reopening of the Jackson Town Health Centre in Trelawny on July 24, Dr. Tufton said, “We did a phenomenal job,” crediting the success to collaboration between health professionals and the public.

“We were able to do it because the people listened, because the people complied, and because the professionals did their job. We went through all the waves and came out on top,” the Minister said.

Dr. Tufton also commended the Ministry’s commitment to transparency and communication throughout the pandemic, noting the regular updates provided to the public despite facing criticisms.

“We stood in front of the cameras every week to update the country. We took the criticisms. We addressed the questions. We engaged with the media, and we guided our people through it all,” he said.

Highlighting the importance of strengthening primary healthcare moving forward, Dr. Tufton added, “We must now maintain that momentum and continue to build resilience. That’s what primary healthcare is all about.”

The Jackson Town Health Centre reopened after renovations funded through the Ministry’s Operation Refresh programme, supported by the National Health Fund (NHF). Repairs included roof and ceiling work, electrical rewiring, plumbing upgrades, new fixtures, and improvements to clinical and administrative areas.

Keriesa Bell Cummings, Parish Manager for the Trelawny Health Department, said the Type 2 facility serves over 3,800 residents in Jackson Town and nearby communities, providing services such as curative care, maternal and child health, immunisation, nutrition, and environmental health.