The Ministry of Health has a great partnership with Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS). The work that is being done in their islandwide outreach and mobile screening, particularly in rural and underserved communities contributes to the advancement of the primary health care/ community-focused approach which we believe is important to stem the tide of non-communicable diseases.

This according to the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Kevin Harvey, who was speaking on behalf of Minister of Health Dr Fenton Ferguson at the Jamaica Cancer Society's 60th Anniversary Launch and Lecture.

"The subsidised services and free offerings which the JCS provides contribute to the strides being made by the ministry towards fully achieving universal access to health and universal health coverage. In fact, the Jamaica Cancer Society will be one of our key stakeholders in a high-level dialogue to look at how we can move further towards achieving universal health coverage," he said.

The high-level dialogue, which is being coordinated and led by Ministry of Health and PAHO, will be held on Wednesday and Thursday.

Promotion activities

Dr Harvey said the Ministry of Health's health promotion activities around the prevention and control of cancer were also positively impacted by the work of JCS. It has undoubtedly been augmented by the Jamaica Cancer Society's public education campaigns and special events such as Relay for Life and the Breast Cancer 5K walk/run.

The launch and lecture was held at King's House under the patronage of Governor General Sir Patrick Allen.