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High Level Meeting on Human Resources for Health in the Caribbean. Overview of the Health Situation in Caribbean Situation Rudolph Cummings, CARICOM. Accra Beach Resort, Christchurch ,Barbados, 19 – 20 March, 2012. Policy references.
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High Level Meeting on Human Resources for Health in the Caribbean Overview of the Health Situation in Caribbean Situation Rudolph Cummings, CARICOM Accra Beach Resort, Christchurch ,Barbados, 19 – 20 March, 2012
Policy references • Nassau Declaration of 2001 – “the Health of the Region is the Wealth of the Region” • Caribbean Cooperation in Health III (CCH III) • Report of the Caribbean Commission on Health and Development • Port of Spain Declaration on NCDs- Uniting to fight the scourge of NCDs
CCH III – 8 Thematic priorities • - Communicable Disease • - Non-Communicable Disease • - Health Systems Strengthening • - Environmental Health • - Food and Nutrition • - Mental Health • - Family and Child Health • - Human Resource Development
Five areas for functional cooperation • 1. Creation of a Healthy Caribbean environment conducive to promoting the health of its people and visitors • 2. Improved health and quality of life for Caribbean all people throughout the life cycle. Adding years to life and Life to Years • 3. Responsive Health Services - effectively meeting and adapting to the needs of the Caribbean people • 4. Human resource capacity developed to support infrastructure development in health in • the Region • 5. Evidence-based decision making to be the mainstay of policy development in the Region
Caribbean Commission on Health and Development • Intended a Caribbean comparator to the Sachs Commission Report on Global Health and Development • Precursor to the Millennium Development Goals MDGS • Confirmed the high burden of Non-Communicable Diseases
Caribbean Health Situation • High burden of NCDs – Obesity is critical risk factor • Heart Disease, Stroke, Cancer and Diabetes are among the first five leading causes of death • The Region has met global immunisation targets for coverage both in relation to traditional childhood vaccines and has pursued vigorously new and unused vaccines – Mumps, Rubella, Hep B, H.influenzae B. and now Rota V., Pneumo and HPV • Measles and Congenital Rubella Syndrome Elimination on track
Caribbean Health Situation • The incidence of AIDS and AIDS related mortality has decreased significantly with advances in treatment penetration • HIV prevalence hovers around 1.1 percent with the Region striving for the Elimination of MTCT by 2015 • Four CARICOM Member States have endemic malaria in specific settings • Tb incidence is low but real issues with MDT especially related to AIDS • Dengue and Dengue Haemorrhagic are among new threats
Challenges • Low IMR relative to the global trends in developing countries have presented a formidable challenge to achieve MDG related reductions – TT, Surinam and Guyana are outstanding. • Similarly for MMR reductions Surinam, Guyana and Jamaica are outstanding • Adjusted targets for HIV/AIDS are aggressively being pursued – treatment penetration increasing and an enhancement to prevention
New Morbidities • Obesity • NCD burden • Violence and injuries • Rampant drug use • Suicide • An aging population
Health systems needs • Pursuit of complementary inputs from non-health sector – multi-sector approaches needed • Health services integration of infectious diseases services – AIDs,Tb, Mental Health, • Solving health financing – Jamaica and TT models for NCDs • Strengthening Health Information Systems for planning – One of the Mandates of Nassau
Social Settings • Growing inequity • Economic stagnation • Escalating unemployment • Migration • Criminalisation of the society – drugs and arms
HR factoids • 3 countries are not yet at the WHO 25 Health Workers/10000 pop • 78% of health workers in Public Sector even though private care costs accounts for more that 50% of care costs • Out migration is pegged at 81% for Nurses • Nurse to Pop 12.5/10,000. 30% vacancy in Public Sector • Physician migration rate is also high 53% • Dentist to population ratio is relatively low.
HR Challenges • Slow transition of training programs to academic settings • Further harmonisation of curricula required • Attrition and failure in Nurse programs high • Incentives in public sector a problem • Continuing education a challenge in small labor markets • Resistance to task shifting • Inequitable access in some environments to care
CARICOM Initiatives • CSME provides an opportunity for harmonisation of qualifications and professional regulation. • CAAM-HP • RENR • CAMC • CPA Exam