It's Not All Sunshine...

ECONOMY

This country is kept alive through its agriculture, tourism and mining. They make the most of their money from the export trade, where they trade many agriculture items such as sugar cane, bananas and coffee. The mining keeps them afloat throughout the off season (World Bank, 2015). They mine natural resources such as bauxite. The country happens to be the 3rd largest producer. Tourism happens to be another big money maker. Most of their travelers hail from the United States, which in turn means America puts a lot of money into Jamaica’s economy. However, the economy has suffered a decrease in growth and an increase in debt due to crime, corruption, and unemployment. Over the last few decades the GPD has slowly increased 1 percent a year. To fix the problem, the government has made a deal with the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank to reform the country’s finances in four years through various programs (World Bank, 2015). Today the country is currently on schedule to soon restore the economy. Its capital has increased slightly.

EDUCATION

The literacy rate of the general population is 87 percent (Factbook, 2015). Their education system mirrors the British. It’s divided into 4 sectors: pre-primary, primary, secondary, and university (International Bureau of Education, 2010). However, the highest level of education most Jamaicans achieve is six years of primary school. Primary school is the only sector that is free to children. Many often don’t go any further because any higher education requires payment. They have dedicated a lot of time to better their education system through programs to help the children. There is also a private sector on the island to aid children in a better education. In comparison to America, the United States spends more money on its students and has a smaller student to teacher ratio, which allows for American children to have a better education.

HEALTH SYSTEMS

Jamaica has a universal health care system in place. They have divided the country into four regions. Each region has its own set of facilities where quality is also varied throughout. Every parish has at least one hospital however the emergency care facility are only located in Kingston and Montego Bay. In total, on the island, there is a public and private sector which serve on a primary, secondary, and tertiary level (WHO, 2013). Both structures lack in comparison to other countries. For instance, in America they’re equipped for pretty much any issue whereas in Jamaica they can’t treat everything. So, if you’re really sick you must get shipped out for better care or they simple treat it as best they can.

There are many barriers that affect the system in Jamaica. The government doesn’t put that much money into the healthcare infrastructure. The high crime also present a problem because you have more people getting harmed than necessary and no place to treat them. The water and sanitation has improved which has decreased some a lot of illness however in rural place 25% still have a poor sanitation so they are at risk (WHO, 2013). They end up going the more holistic route. Unlike in America where many rely on beginning with the westernized modern medicine then either add or switch to alternative measures.

Poverty is another big aspect that negatively impacts the infrastructure because people aren’t able to give back to the system. Instead of it being a give and take relationship, like in the United States, they’re just using up the resources. With 24 hospitals and 348 health centers, in the public sector, everyone is seen and treated free of cost (Ferguson, 2015). However, everything has a price to pay. In this case, free care cost them time and quality. In America, it’s all about bedside manner but in Jamaica that gets thrown out the window. It’s all about getting them in and out fast to get to the next client. Healthcare providers don’t care as much for the little thing because they aren’t getting paid that much. Most end up refusing to go to these facility because they are overcrowded with long lines and offer poor quality of care. Though medications are free they are hard to obtain due to the lack of supply at the pharmacies. It’s seen as a waste of time because you can waste a whole day just trying to be seen. In America, wait times are seen to be dreadful. So, could you only image the hostility and negativity surrounding this situation?

Though private facilities my come at a cost, they are preferred by those with money because they have more qualified staff and more beds. Offering care at 10 private hospitals, serving 200 beds to a population of 2.7 million makes things run a little smoothly for those who pay. To compare, the public centers the bed density ratio is 1.7 beds to every 1000 person. (Ferguson, 2015). The only bug down fall is like in the United States, not everyone can afford it and not everyone is qualified for insurance.

References

Brewer, J. (2006). School Children Smiling [Web image]. Retrieved October 20, 2015, from https://www.flickr.com/photos/integralfocus/85185600

“Factbook: Jamaica,” (2015). Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved October 1, 2015, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/jm.html

Ferguson, F. (2015). Health in Jamaica. Retrieved October 5, 2015, from http://www.commonwealthhealth.org/americas/jamaica

International Bureau of Education. (2010). World Data on Education. Retrieved October 6, 2015, from http://www.ibe.unesco.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Publications/WDE/2010/pdf- versions/Jamaica.pdf

Morris, P. (2013).Bauxite Jamaica 1984 [Web image]. RetrievedOctober 20, 2015, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bauxite_Jamaica_1984.jpg

Shodan. (2011). Kingston Public & Victoria Jubilee Hospital [Web image]. Retrieved October 20, 2015,

https://www.flickr.com/photos/airborneshodan/5478421137

Starke, J. (2011). Jamaican School Kids [Web image]. Retrieved October 20, 2015, from https://www.flickr.com/photos/starkej2/5577409878

United Nations. (2011). Education for All – Children in Jamaica[Web image]. Retrieved October 20, 2015,

from https://www.flickr.com/photos/un_photo/8091074565

WHO. (2013). Country Cooperation Strategy. Retrieved October 6, 2015, from http://www.who.int/countryfocus/cooperation_strategy/ccsbrief_jam_en.pdf

World Bank. (2015). Jamaica Overview. Retrieved October 19, 2015, from http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/jamaica/overview

#jamaica #carribean #economy #education #children #poverty #health #system #healthcare #photo