Health and Wellness Ministry to launch $500 million C.A.R.E. Fund

Call for proposals will be published on Monday, June 15 

Durrant Pate/Contributor

In a bid to increase the health-seeking behaviour of Jamaicans, the Ministry of Health and Wellness is set to launch a new $500 million Community Arranged Response Efforts (C.A.R.E.) Fund.

The Ministry is launching the C.A.R.E. Fund to support community projects linked to its strategies for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) or chronic diseases prevention. The tenure for this programme will be over two years. 

Portfolio Minister, Dr Chris Tufton, who announced the fund in his sectoral debate presentation in parliament on Tuesday, said the fund will be managed by the Ministry’s Enabling Environment in Health & Client Services Division. 

The fund will seek to work with Community-Based Organisations, Faith-Based Organisations and other Civil Society Groups to: increase health-seeking behaviour, improve and strengthen families to support vulnerable persons like the disabled and elderly, and promote prevention strategies for NCDs along the life course.

To this end, the Ministry will publish a call for proposals on Monday, June 15, 2026, inviting organisations from across the island to participate in this collaboration to manage the many societal risks. The Ministry will also approach strategic entities to support the engagement of our communities and families ensuring that we have the broadest and most engaged collaborative structure to meet the objectives that have been established. 

At the end of the interventions, the Health and Wellness Ministry intends to: 

• Refocus on the Family as the main form of social engineering for healthy living and better health practices. 
• Revive the value of community and community-based involvement in social structures that support the care and treatment of the most vulnerable within society.
• Reinvigorate positive social norms and values around holistic living at all stages of the life cycle.

Dr. Tufton told fellow Members of Parliament, “In this context, over the next two years, we will assess a range of issues impacting Jamaicans in the context of family and community health. We will examine the threats and opportunities for new and emerging policies to support holistic health, to protect the vulnerable and enhance the quality and longevity of life. We will seek partnerships, research, and advocate for new ideas around these goals, which will strengthen our lifestage approach to community or primary healthcare.” 

He said the Ministry will start with its C.A.R.E Agenda to highlight and influence critical determinants of better family and community health.