Elaine Harris

By Steven Knipp
steve@caymannetnews.com

On Thursday, 16 October, the Jamaica Consular Office is hosting a special public forum to discuss important health and insurance issues affecting Jamaican residents in Cayman.

The forum, which will begin at 6:00 pm and continue until 9:00 pm, will be held at the St. George’s Anglican Church Hall, on Courts Road in George Town.

Speaking to Cayman Net News, the Jamaica Honorary Vice-Consul Elaine Harris, said: “The reason we have decided to host this special discussion forum is that recently a number of medical cases have been brought to our attention involving serious illnesses and even a death of a premature baby. And there have also been some complaints.

“And so we want to help inform people what possible solutions might be available to them in terms of medical treatment, insurance coverage and other related matters. More people need a better basic understanding about medical coverage and treatment and health care here.”

She added that the forum can help both the public and the government deal with the issues. “We want to make sure that Jamaican nationals and the various government departments are all on the same page. On the one hand, the general public needs more information, and on the other hand, both the Health Services Authority and the Immigration Department have their hands full.

“And so the more information available, both accurate and up-to-date information, the better it will be for everyone. We believe that this forum will be mutually beneficial to everyone who attends.”

Among the guests speaking at the forum will be Lizzette Yearwood, Acting CEO of the Health Services Authority; Mervyn Connolly, Superintendent of Health Insurance; and Chief Immigration Officer, Franz Manderson.

Ms Yearwood told the Net News that “the key aim of this forum is to gather and present information to the general public, in this case Jamaican residents, about the kinds of things that they need to think about in terms of their medical insurance needs. By having this information well in advance of a medical emergency, they will be better able to deal with a medical emergency.

“Because in cases where a patient has to be air-lifted off island, the costs can be very great, and if that’s the time you are finding that you don’t have coverage for this, it is really too late. So we are also inviting various insurance companies to come along and explain about their coverage and their costs.”

Ms Harris said that the Superintendent of Pensions is also expected to attend.

In addition to welcoming various government bodies and the media, Ms Harris said that the Consul is also inviting “various local religious leaders, because they may find the information which we will be discussing of use to people that they know of in their church.”

Ms Harris also said that anyone is welcome to attend the event, even if they are not Jamaicans.

“The key to this event is to better inform people about medical coverage and so avert a possible crisis down the road because a person simply did not have enough basic information.”

If the turnout is large enough, Ms Harris confirmed that a second heath-related forum might be scheduled for later in the year. For more information on the 16 October event, call the Jamaican Consul at 949-9526.