The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is finalising arrangements for the acquisition of 100,000 doses of monkeypox vaccines from biotechnology firm Bavarian Nordic, for distribution to Latin American and Caribbean member countries. PAHO Director, Dr. Carissa Etienne, says the entity secured an agreement, through its Revolving Fund facility, with Bavarian Nordic, which is headquartered in Hellerup, Denmark, to provide the...

Jamaica will join the rest of the world in celebrating International Literacy Day on Thursday, September 8, under the theme ‘Transforming Literacy Learning Spaces’. Schools across Jamaica are being encouraged to be innovative in engaging students and other stakeholders in the celebrations and to use the day to look at ways to transform the literacy learning spaces. These celebratory activities...

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is aiming to expand the implementation of agricultural practices in urban areas, which will include backyard gardening and vertical farming. Critical to the ‘Grow Smart, Eat Smart’ campaign is the involvement of Jamaicans in the process of becoming food secure through creating opportunities for self- sufficiency. Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr.,...

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, has lauded the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) for its 2022 research focus on digital health management. The regional health agency will host its 66th Health Research Conference in Jamaica from September 15 to 17, under the theme ‘COVID-19 and Digital Health: Transforming, Connecting, Informing Public Health’. Speaking at the...

The Ministry of Education and Youth is to spend $2 billion on textbooks this academic year, of which $1 billion is for primary schools and $1 billion for high schools. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Fayval Williams, made the disclosure during the sitting of the House of Representatives on September 6. “I am particularly pleased of the greater investment in textbooks at...

A gun amnesty will be declared as soon as the new Firearms (Prohibition, Restriction and Regulation) Act is entered into force, says Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang. This amnesty will allow persons who may be in possession of illegal firearms the opportunity to surrender these weapons to the State, without the fear of prosecution. Dr. Chang made...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, and Minister of Education and Youth, Hon, Fayval Williams, will host a Town Hall meeting focusing on Education. The meeting is scheduled to be held on Friday, September 9, at the Karl Hendrickson Auditorium, Jamaica College, starting at 5:00 p.m., under the theme: ‘Education Time for Action’. This Town Hall meeting is the...