Jamaica's Minister of Health, the Honorable Dr. Fenton Ferguson, announced on July 18 that the recent ban on smoking in public places is part of the broader strategy related to the National Development Plan, Vision 2030.
The goal of Vision 2030 is to make Jamaica "the place of choice to live, work raise families and do business."
The smoking ban is part of the broader strategy to reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, high blood presser and cancers. They also aim to reduce mortality and extend the life expectancy. Their program is based off of research conducted on similar legislation in countries such as Ireland, Canada and the United States. Minister Ferguson commented that the burden of non-communicable diseases is costing the country $170 million per year to treat in public institutions.
Minister Ferguson also highlighted the creation of four Centers of Excellence at the primary healthcare level, with the aim of establishing a Center of Excellence for cancer treatment as part of the broader Natonal Development Plan for Jamaica. More