The Ministry of Health and Wellness has officially launched the Research for Wellness Fund, making J$50 Million Dollars available to Jamaican researchers to execute public health research.
The Research for Wellness projects are to focus on: Wellness in the workplace; Wellness in Schools; Wellness in homes; Wellness in communities; and Wellness among persons with Non-Communicable Diseases and risk factors. These risk factors include sedentarism, unhealthy diet, tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol and air quality.
The Research for Wellness Fund is in support of the Wellness Agenda announced by Minister of Health & Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, during his Sectoral Presentation earlier this year.
“The policy direction of the Ministry of Health and Wellness is to encourage research to enhance the provision of research for health and wellness that promotes development. We are committed to using research findings to guide policies in improving the wellness of the society.” Dr. Tufton noted.
The Fund, financed by the National Health Fund (NHF), an agency of the Ministry of Health & Wellness will, on an annual basis, provide financial support and directives to academics and qualified professionals, who propose to use fact-based methods to provide research evidence that, can be manipulated to guide policies in improving the wellness of the society.
Awards from the Fund will be given in two tiers; Tier 1 awards are for studies led by experienced investigators with a value of up to J$20 Million. Tier 2 awards are for studies that are “proof of concept” with a value of up to J$5 Million. Proposals are now being accepted and members of the public have until Thursday, March 5, 2020 to make submissions. Applications and submissions are to be made via the Ministry’s website, www.moh.gov.jm.
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