Health trends

Lenworth Jacobs Clinic reopens

The Lenworth Jacobs Clinic reopened in July at 65 East Street, Kingston. This sexual and reproductive health facility focuses on wellbaby services such as immunisation, contraceptive, pre- and post-natal care, contraceptives and counselling.

This reopening is important since 186 countries are now counting down to the 2015 United Nations' Millennium Development Goal (MDGs). Of the eight MDGs, FAMPLAN Jamaica is working to reduce child mortality (goal 4) and improve maternal health (goal 5).

According to United Nation Development Fund (UNDP), Jamaica is far behind with regard to MDG 4 as the under-five mortality rate has only been reduced by 14 per cent up to 2005 and the infant mortality rate reduced by almost one-third.

Also, the progress of MDG 5 varies, as it is far behind in reducing by three-quarters, between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality rate. However, the country is on track with achieving universal access to reproductive health by 2015. Therefore more work has to be done to improve maternal and newborn health in Jamaica. FAMPLAN is committed to working alongside the government and other non-governmental organisations to meet this 2015 deadline.

FAMPLAN Jamaica, formerly the Jamaica Family Planning Association, is an affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, the leading family planning organisation in the world. This non-governmental organisation that has been serving families in Jamaica for over 52 years also operates the Beth Jacobs Clinic in St Ann's Bay.

Source: FAMPLAN Jamaica.