Jamaica National Committee on Non-Communicable Diseases

by HCC
Jamaica National Committee on the Non-Communicable Diseases
Commission Profile
Status as at June 2019Inactive
CountryJamaica
NameJamaica National Committee on Non-Communicable Diseases
Date of first meetingDecember 2011
Date of last meetingMay 2014. The NCDC had completed its term and is awaiting re-appointment
Number of meetings over past 12 months-
Chairperson’s nameNone at present.
Title-
Organisational affiliation-
Duration of tenure-
Legal authority/reference-
Location(sector/entity)-
Mandate/Scope of workAdvocacy, advise on policy/legislation/programmes. No explicit mandate for implementation of programmes, resource mobilization, monitoring and evaluation or research. No mandate for hospital services review
Terms of referenceNo
Conflict of interest policyNo
Code of ethicsNo
Standard operating proceduresNo
NNCDC strategic plan/plan of actionYes
Decision-making process (consensus, majority, other)-
Membership and Personnel9 ex-officio and 33 members
Government sector membership and level of representationMinistries of Agriculture and Education, Trade, Consumer Affairs, Transport, Local government, Food and Nutrition
Civil society membership and level of representationUniversity of the West Indies, Health NGO, Sports groups and Faith-based organisations
Private sector membership and level of representationManufacturers, Food retailers, Advertising and Media
Ex officio membersChief Medical Officer, NCD Focal Point, Health Promotion Officer
Secretariat exists? If so, please give date of establishmentNo
ResourcesThe Commission obtains professional, administrative and secretarial support from the staff of the NCD Focal Point in the Ministry of Health (MOH). There is however no secretariat, secretary or budgetary support.
Full-time human resources/functionsNo
Part-time human resources/functionsNo
Main functions (advisory, accountability, strategic planning, project/programme implementation, other)-
Main areas of interventions for NCDs and NCD risk factors-
Other health issues that the NCD/Wellness Commission /Wellness Coordinating Mechanism addresses-
  • Is there integration – structural or functional, with other health-related Commissions, such as HIV Commissions?
  • If so, to what extent? Fully? To a large extent? To some extent?
Mental health is considered an integral part of the work of the Commission and in addition the Commission liaises with the HIV/AIDS programme to share successes and methodologies.
Framework(s) of reference (national policy, strategy or plan; international plans/strategies)-
Focus of interventions (legislation, taxation, policy development, project/programme development, project/programme implementation, capacity building, surveillance, monitoring and evaluation, other)-
Work groups/subcommittees/task forces and their functionsIt has 9 Sub-Technical Committees whose Chairs or Co-Chairs are members of the National Committee.

Sub-Technical Committees:
  1. Surveillance, Monitoring, Evaluation and Research
  2. Tobacco and Alcohol Control
  3. Physical Activity
  4. Health, Diet/Nutrition
  5. Health Promotion, Education, Communication, and Social Marketing and Special Sitting
  6. Screening and Integrated Disease Management
  7. Violence and Injuries Prevention
  8. Policy
  9. Mental Health
Accountability mechanisms (periodicity of monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and to whom; financial accountability mechanisms)Occurs every 2 years
Main successes
  • Participation in the formulation of the National Strategy and Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases in Jamaica 2013-2017
  • Implementation of the Public Health Tobacco Control Regulation 2013
  • Education of stakeholders, the Mayors of Kingston and St Andrew, the Capital of Jamaica and her counsellors, and the Mayor of Portland and his counsellors, on the economic consequences of NCDs
  • Media sensitisation/ education on the NCDs
Success factors-
Specifically
  • Were there any successes due mainly to the participation of non-health sectors in the Commission?
  • If yes, please summarize, highlighting the role played by the non-health sector(s)
-
Main challenges
  • Lack of budgetary support and lack of dedicated secretarial support to implement many of its functions
  • Lack of authority to implement policies or to audit results of the NCDs plan
  • Lack of clarity about their independence from the Ministry of Health
How were these challenges overcome? Specifically:
  • Did changes in administration disrupt the Commission’s functioning?
  • If yes, what were these changes and their effects?
  • If no, how was continuity of function maintained? What steps were taken?
-
Partnerships, technical cooperation (TC) – please summarize partners and relevant TC areasNone
Main source(s) of funding and approximate percentage of funding from each sourceNone
Indicative annual budget (USD)None
Resource mobilisation, main areasNone
Mechanisms for sustainabilityNone
None
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