The 2016 GIS Executive Forum, under the theme ‘Geospatial Technologies: Advancing Public Health Services’ provided a platform for health care specialists, Parish Council representatives, physicians, emergency response technicians, geospatial experts, business leaders and innovators to discuss practices within the health sector as well as a framework to improve these practices.
The National Spatial Data Management Division (NSDMD) and the Land Information Council of Jamaica (LICJ) of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC), jointly organized this forum which was held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on November 9, 2016 during the annual celebration of international Geography Awareness Week ( November 9-18, 2016).
The forum demonstrated the practical ways in which geospatial tools and technologies can be utilized to advance public health services, in particular vector control, ultimately improving the health care system and the efficient provision of resources at all levels.
Dr. Este Geraghty, Esri's Chief Medical Officer and Health Solutions Director was keynote presenter. Dr. Geraghty leads the health and human services team, focusing on the improvement of health though strategic use of geographic information systems. She earned her MD, Master's in Medical Informatics and Masters of Public Health degrees at UC Davis. She is board certified in internal medicine and public health and is a Geographic Information Systems Professional (GISP). The keynote presentation focused on the important link shared by geography and health, how GIS can assist health care professionals and practioners thus ultimately resulting in a more improved and efficient health service through the use of “geomedicine” and how GIS can better help with planning within the Public Health Services.
Website:
www.licj.org.jm
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