Ministry Launches COVID-19 Welfare Programme

Welfare Programme Launched: With growing levels of illness and staff absenteeism due to burnout, the Ministry of Health and Wellness has officially launched a $75.8 million welfare programme for the island’s public-health workers. The one-year initiative is expected to bolster staff well-being, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Jamaica are over 7000 and counting. 

To date, approximately 140 health care workers have been infected and more than 500 have been required to quarantine. 

Registered Nurse, Antonia Richards-Stewart who manages the COVID-19 Ward at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH),  recounts the plight of Healthcare Workers in their ongoing struggle against the deadly virus. 

It is for those reasons, the Health Ministry has launched the COVID-19 Staff Welfare Programme. 

Health And Wellness Minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton, says the programme aims to increase staff morale, reduce the effects of burnout, build staff capacity within facilities and boost the overall effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery.

He notes that the 5 components of the programme are human resource management, psycho social support, rest and relaxation and COVID support and wellness.

Among the benefits are mandatory rest days for staff who would have worked excessive hours.

Tufton says timely results for COVID-19 tests is another benefit of the initiative.

He further notes that care packages will be provided to all staff in quarantine and isolation. In addition, he says team members will also benefit from preferential hotel and attraction rates.

Dr. Tufton says the Ministry is prepared to take on some 127 new nurses and 20 midwives who have recently received certification. 

In addition, he says the government will also be employing more Nurses from the Cuban Brigade. 

CVM LIVE‘s Alladen Love reports: