Dr. Tufton: Increase in Child & Maternal Mortality Not Due to PROMAC

Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton has dismissed what he called the suggestion by Opposition Spokesman Dr. Alfred Dawes that the Programme for the Reduction of Maternal and Child Mortality, PROMAC, has failed.

Shaloy Smikle has that story.

During a media briefing on Wednesday, the Opposition Spokesman on Health questioned what became of PROMAC.

This is a European Union-funded programme that seeks to assist Jamaica in reducing child and maternal mortality.

According to Dr. Dawes, both mortality rates have increased despite the programme.

However, Dr. Tufton says the EU itself has lauded Jamaica’s implementation of PROMAC.

The Health Minister says the equipment and facilities provided under the programme are still in use today.

However, he says some of the facilities had been repurposed during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Dr. Tufton says these facilities are currently being returned to their original purpose.

The minister says the spike in child and maternal mortality was also partly caused by the pandemic.

Dr. Tufton says steps are being taken to bring the rate back within the globally accepted average, with reductions already evident as of 2023.

However, he made it clear that all this information was provided in a report accompanying his sectoral presentation in May.