Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says that the Ministry will be launching a mental health initiative in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19), which will focus on the elderly. He made the disclosure at the weekly virtual COVID Conversations press briefing on Wednesday (September 30) at the Northern Caribbean University in Manchester. The press conference focused...

The Government will be spending $826 million on the acquisition of textbooks for the upcoming academic year, including electronic books (ebooks) and learning apps. This was disclosed by Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Fayval Williams, who noted that the Ministry has provided the full complement of textbooks needed by schools for this term. She said that approximately $626...

Senior Manager for Projects at the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), Gregory Thomas, has called on fisherfolk in Negril, Westmoreland, to become better stewards of the aquatic ecosystem, in order to maintain a healthy marine environment and sustainable fisheries. In an interview following a recent coral outplanting exercise, at the Orange Bay Fish Sanctuary, in Hanover, Mr. Thomas said...

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) says it has observed positive trends in the environment amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. “During the initial phase of the local outbreak when businesses and schools shifted their operations online, we saw some positive changes concerning the air quality and we have documented that,” Director of Environmental Management and Conservation at NEPA, Anthony...

Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie, is encouraging Jamaicans to check on the elderly members of the society and to maintain daily contact with them, to ensure that they are feeling well and are in good health. The CMO, who was addressing a virtual meeting with the Rotary Clubs of Manor Park, Spanish Town, North St. Catherine and Portmore,...

The Ministry of Health and Wellness will be implementing a $37-million staff welfare programmer for the island’s health workers. Speaking at the sitting of the House of Representatives at the Jamaica Conference Centre on September 29, Portfolio Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, said the one-year initiative aims to bolster staff well-being in light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. He...

Acting Medical Officer of Health for St. Ann, Dr. Tamika Henry, says the parish has not had any confirmed cases of dengue fever between January and the end of August. “We are doing very well. We have our temporary workers, who are out in the field every day, as well as our permanent workers that do search and destroy activities....