Malnutrition and gastroenteritis among Jamaican children

In response to Resolution No. 7 of the Fifth Caribbean Health Minsters Conference of February 1973, the Executive Secretary convened a meeting of a stering committee comprising members of staff of CFNI, the Faculty of Medicine, U.W.I., PAHO, WHO and FAO. Arising from this, it was decided to produce the Strategy and Plan of Action of Combat Gastroenteritis and Malnutrition in children under two years of age. The implementation of that programme was launched in Jamaica in January 1976 by Dr. A.W. Patterson, the Principal Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health and Environmental Control. This preliminary report deals with observations of progess made in the field and the hospitals from the time of initial launching of the programme in Jamaica. Observation covers the time peroid from April 12, to July 27, 1976; and compares favourably with the situation as it exists in the country of Nigeria. Based upon observations, discussions, site visits and data collected, the following preliminary report provides implications for the implementation of strategies related to the SPACGEM PROJECT and the ultimate reduction of malnutrition and gastroenteritis among children under two years old in Jamaica.