About the National Epidemiology Branch
Epidemiology is the study of how often diseases occur in different groups of people, and why. In the Ministry of Health and Wellness, that work is done by the National Epidemiology Branch. It collects, produces and shares data on diseases in Jamaica to inform decisions, policies and interventions.
The Branch is part of the Ministry’s Technical Services Division. It is charged with providing timely and accurate epidemiological information to support decisions and policy on the health of the nation.
It is led by the Principal Medical Officer and National Epidemiologist, who oversees its units and works at the top national level of Jamaica’s surveillance system with the Minister of Health and Wellness, the Permanent Secretary and the Chief Medical Officer, where decisions on advisories, warnings and alerts are made.
Vision
Information for a Healthy Jamaica.
Mission
The generation of timely and accurate information for the health of all Jamaicans.
Values
Respect, teamwork, fairness, professionalism and honesty.
Essential public health functions
The Pan American Health Organization sets out eleven Essential Public Health Functions. The Branch is directly responsible for three of them.
Monitoring, evaluation and analysis of health status
Surveillance, research and control of the risks and threats to public health
Research in public health
How the Branch is organised
Three units and a GIS sub-unit carry out the Branch’s work, overseen by the Principal Medical Officer and National Epidemiologist.
National Surveillance Unit
The National Surveillance Unit monitors notifiable diseases, health events and syndromes across Jamaica.
Epidemiology Research and Analysis Unit
The Unit designs and supports epidemiological studies and surveys, analyses the findings and communicates what they mean for public health in Jamaica.
Health Status Monitoring Unit
The Health Status Monitoring Unit coordinates the assessment and reporting of Jamaica’s population health.
Geographical Information Systems Sub-Unit
The Sub-Unit develops and maintains a geospatial detection platform that monitors disease trends and the social, economic and environmental factors behind outbreaks and anomalies.
