Faced with the public health crisis that was the coronavirus pandemic, Jamaica’s healthcare workers rose to the challenge, exhibiting commitment, service and sacrifice in their response to contain and manage the islandwide virus outbreak.

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the nation’s healthcare workers, Jamaica was able to fend off the worst effects of the pandemic, and, in a show of the country’s gratitude for their efforts, the month of July will be used to celebrate the island’s healthcare workers.

In an official proclamation signed by Governor General Sir Patrick Allen, July was proclaimed as Healthcare Workers Appreciation Month and the 13th day of July as Healthcare Workers Appreciation Day.

According to Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton, “healthcare workers -including our porters, nurses, doctors, data entry clerks, community health aides, and administrators – have and continue to blaze a trail of excellence to Jamaicans from all walks of life, even in a challenging environment”.

Said Tufton: “This month, we celebrate you as healthcare heroes. The work of the healthcare team has been thrust into the spotlight with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic when the world was brought to a near standstill and healthcare workers activated what some would deem to be their superpower.

“Because of the sacrifice of our healthcare workers, we can live to tell the tales. If it wasn’t for the healthcare workers then, certainly, Jamaica would be in a worse place.”

As a result of this, speaking at the official launch of Healthcare Workers Appreciation Month, held on Monday (July 4), at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in St Andrew, Tufton shared that his ministry and the entire Holness administration are grateful “for what you have done, under extreme circumstances, and this month of July is a month to celebrate the efforts of our public health workers, to say thanks and put them on a pedestal”.

He said that, coming out of the COVID-19 crisis, the ministry is looking at how things should be done differently and for the better, not just in the interest of patients but also for the healthcare workers who provide critical services.

He informed that the planned multibillion-dollar infrastructure expansion and upgrading of the health sector is one development that will provide improvements for staff and clients.

The minister added: “All of this will mean better infrastructure and a better response to those who need that type of attention.”

In the meantime, Tufton said a monument would be erected at National Heroes Park in Kingston to show appreciation to healthcare workers.

READ: Jamaicans asked to treat healthcare workers special during July