REMARKS

Ava Whyte Anderson, UNDP Programmes Specialist A.I. on behalf of

UNDP Resident Representative, Denise E Antonio

Handing over Ceremony for Computer Equipment for the Jamaica Injury Surveillance System

by Spotlight Initiative/UNDP

Monday 23 August, 11:00 a.m.

• Ms. Kadian Birch, Director, Programme Coordination, Planning and Strategic Initiatives (Actg.) representing the Permanent Secretary
• Ms Melecia Linton, CEO, Princess Margaret Hospital, St Thomas, South East Regional Health Authority
• Dr Samantha Walker, Senior Medical Officer, Princess Margaret Hospital, South East Regional Health Authority
• Dr McKenzie- Senior Medical Officer, Lionel Town, Clarendon, Southern Regional Health Authority
• Staff of the Ministry of Health and Wellness
• Other distinguished guests including members of the Media

Good morning All.

It is my honour to represent the UNDP Resident Representative Denise E Antonio in delivering these short remarks

She has asked me to convey UNDP’s delight in representing the joint-United Nations and European Union-funded Spotlight Initiative in this morning’s handing over ceremony of 12 computers which will be dedicated to the service of the Jamaica Injury Surveillance System (JISS) managed by the Ministry of Health.

Specifically, the donation will expand the JISS to two additional hospitals – the Princess Margaret & Lionel Town hospitals. This bring the total to eleven (11) hospitals within which JISS is implemented.

We envisage that this increase, will improve the collection of data of all injuries seen in the Accident & Emergency (A&E) departments and bolster national capacity to collect, analyze and apply strategic plans to incidences of violence against women and girls. Staff at these two locations will also be trained in the JISS to support effective collection and management of the requisite data.

This support from the Spotlight Initiative is packaged to address the significant institutional capacity challenges being experienced as it relates to robust data production and analysis.  This specific challenge is a bottleneck in joint efforts to address violence against women and girls.

Enhanced national capacity to collect, map and analyze the extent of intentional injuries is an important pillar for improving local efforts to reduce violence against women and girls. The expanded JISS, combined with police data and community-based surveys, can now generate risk profiles for different types of injuries from five high traffic locations. In so doing, it is a valuable asset in tracking and monitoring family violence including violence against women and intimate partner violence (IPV). Importantly, the data can be harnessed to design responsive monitoring and prevention programmes, as well as support and evaluate policy, legislative and intervention control measures.

We agree with our partners in government that we can sharpen evidence-based response to victims of GBV by improving data collection and analysis. This approach is consistent with pillar five of the Spotlight Initiative which aims to strengthen capacity to regularly collect data related to family violence, in line with international and regional standards to inform laws, policies and programmes.

A great example of why the JISS is a solid investment for Spotlight Initiative funding is to be found in its data reports: Between 2014 and 2017, 20% of all child visits to public hospitals surveyed by the JISS were due to sexual assault with females being most disadvantaged with 40% of all female child visits being as a result of a sexual assault. For the majority of the reported cases, the perpetrator was known, and included a relative, friend, acquaintance, or intimate partner. For the most part, the sexual assault of the girl-child occurs at home.

Increasing the ability of hospitals to record, generate, analyse and present data using the JISS will bolster intelligence and truly make a difference in the quality and accuracy of interventions, especially for those who are most vulnerable.  I am pleased to use this opportunity to announce our expansion of the JISS in an additional hospital- The Port Antonio Hospital. We also be providing ICT equipment, training of the staff and software installation. The anticipated completion date is September 2021. Our financial support to this initiative is a total of US$35,000 or over J$5.3 million.

We are privileged to support this critical effort and welcome the opportunity to strengthen our partnership with the Government to improve evidence-based interventions targeting a reduction in gender-based violence with a specific focus on violence against women and girl.

Let us all continue to do our part in advancing the welfare of the whole human race, and make Jamaica the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business.

Thank you.