Minister Tufton Clarifies Statement on Medical Missions: Diaspora Perspectives
Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton recently made statements regarding the impact of overseas medical missions, particularly dental teams. However, his comments have stirred discussions, with members of the diaspora expressing varying perspectives.
Minister Tufton’s Clarification
Dr. Tufton aimed to clarify his remarks, specifying that he was referring to oral health only, not all medical missions. He highlighted the benefits of partnerships with overseas missions but pointed out concerns about unregistered missions, particularly those focused on dental extractions. In these cases, harm may be done as patients lose essential teeth, economic prospects, and social opportunities.
The minister emphasized the need for all missions to be registered when visiting Jamaica and suggested a holistic approach to oral health. He plans to establish a protocol for consistency in the field.
Diaspora Leaders’ Response
Despite the minister’s clarification, diaspora leaders remain concerned about the initial statement’s impact. Dr. Roy Streete of The Overseas International Development (OID) highlighted that the initial comments painted all medical missions with the same brush, potentially deterring people from interacting with them. The OID primarily conducts dental missions to Jamaica and indicated that the statement could affect anyone involved in dental work.
Dr. Robert Clarke, head of Help Jamaica Medical Mission, expressed dissatisfaction with the clarification, believing that it still negatively affects medical missions’ reputation. He suggested that the minister should provide a more detailed clarification to distinguish between different missions.
Irwine Clare, head of Team Jamaica Bickle, acknowledged the minister’s concerns but noted that his sweeping statement may not differentiate between registered and unregistered groups. He stressed that registered missions from the northeast undergo thorough screening and should not be grouped with unregistered ones.
Dr. Karren Dunkley, former Northeast Jamaica Diaspora Council member, emphasized the dedication and professionalism demonstrated by numerous medical missions visiting Jamaica. She pointed out that these missions often comprise qualified and credentialed professionals, not students seeking practice. Generalizing and diminishing the contributions of medical missions based on isolated incidents could discourage genuine help and tarnish the reputations of dedicated professionals.
The diaspora leaders underlined their commitment to supporting Jamaica, citing partnerships with the Ministry of Health & Wellness, such as the Adopt-a-Clinic program, as examples of their contributions to the country.
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