Rae Barrett, CEO of National Health Fund. - File
Fifty Foot care assistants graduated from phase two of the 'Foot Care Assistants Training Programme' organised by the Diabetes Association of Jamaica with sponsorship from the National Health Fund (NHF), at the Terra Nova Hotel in St. Andrew on Monday. This brings the total number of foot care assistants trained to 78, with NHF grants amounting to $6.4 million.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of the NHF, Rae Barrett, announced that the fund will be making another grant available to the Diabetes Association of Jamaica to train an additional 50 foot care assistants beginning early next year.
The foot care assistants were trained to identify and treat simple problems of the feet such as corns, blisters, calluses and ingrown toenails and refer difficult cases for further medical intervention thereby reducing the risk of amputations. Mr. Barrett stated that, "through the Foot Care Assistants Training Programme, the NHF is achieving its mandate of reducing the burden of health care for diabetics by assisting them to avoid amputations".
Leading concern in Ja
Various studies have shown that diabetes is one of the leading chronic illnesses in Jamaica. Over 300,000 persons have diabetes with only 50 per cent being aware of their condition. Nearly 18 per cent of the 15 plus age group is affected by diabetes. More alarmingly, statistics from the Ministry of Health and Environment reveal that in public hospitals between 2003 and 2005 there was an average of 350 amputations each year due to diabetes.
To date, NHF has provided over $351.8 million for NHF card drug subsidy and $44.5 million for diabetics supplies. In addition, the NHF has instituted, in collaboration with the private sector, a programme that provides diabetics with Glucometers, free of charge, for self-monitoring.
Mr. Barrett advised that the impact of the Foot Care Assistants Programme will be reviewed in two to three years to evaluate the effect on diabetic foot care in the island.
The Jamaican Foot Care Assistants Training Programme has generated interest from other Caribbean islands which are seeking to replicate it in their country.
