Jamaica launches Chronic Care Connect and Jamaica Moves apps in Spanish Town

Spanish Town, St. Catherine — Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness has rolled out two linked initiatives aimed at curbing non-communicable diseases: the Chronic Care Connect public campaign and an upgraded Jamaica Moves mobile application.

The joint launch, held under the Health System Strengthening Programme (HSSP), brought together national health leaders, regional authorities, European Union and Inter-American Development Bank representatives, and community members. Programme officials said the day marked years of policy work to align chronic-disease care across clinics, community health aides and patients.

Chronic Care Connect is the public face of the chronic care model already piloted at six health centres — three in St. Ann, two in St. Catherine and one in Clarendon. Dr. Alafia Samuels, NCD lead for HSSP, said the model has operated since 2022, with Mapen Health Centre running it for three years and St. Ann’s Bay for two. Pilot sites offer consistent physician follow-up, nutrition support, exercise clubs, patient groups and referrals. Roughly 100 volunteers living with diabetes and hypertension are enrolled across the six locations.

The reboot adds community health aide toolkits, tablets, foot-care resources and electronic health record links. A mass-media drive titled “Take Charge of Your Health,” developed with Public Health Media after testing at Mapen and Brown’s Town centres, includes videos, posters, billboards and social content targeting patients, families and workers.

The Jamaica Moves app, developed with the SLR Foundation, lets users track blood pressure, blood glucose, weight, body mass index and physical activity. Dr. Tamu Davis, director of non-communicable diseases and injuries prevention, said it serves adults with NCDs and those monitoring risk factors, with colour-coded monthly progress and practical lifestyle tips. The free app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Speakers stressed that Jamaica’s NCD burden remains heavy, with ministry figures citing hundreds of thousands living with hypertension and diabetes and many cases poorly controlled. Dr. Yasmin Hannah, regional NCD coordinator for the Southern Regional Health Authority, said self-monitoring can support earlier detection, medication adherence and better clinic conversations.

Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Christopher Tuftton told the gathering that technology must be paired with personal responsibility and a shift in attitudes among both patients and the roughly 24,000 health workers. He linked the apps to wider HSSP gains, including new facilities such as Spanish Town Hospital, targeted for 2027, and St. Jago Park Health Centre, slated to open in 2026.

EU cooperation head Mr. Rodriguez Ruiz said the union has committed J$1.8 billion through HSSP alongside the IDB to strengthen services, training and lifestyle-focused prevention. Officials urged residents to download Jamaica Moves, use screening services and enrol in chronic-care pathways where eligible.