The National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA) is urging members of the public to participate in the National Drug Prevalence Survey, as the results will inform policy decisions. The survey, which is underway, seeks to determine the extent of drug use among the Jamaican population, aged 12-65 years, with a particular focus on marijuana use and attitudes toward the recent...

Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Carissa F. Etienne, is scheduled to visit Jamaica from April 22 – 26, for activities to mark Vaccination Week in the Americas (VWA). Dr. Etienne will deliver the keynote address at the regional launch of the week on April 23 at Emancipation Park, New Kingston. The launch, which is taking place...

Care for newborns at the Savanna-la-Mar General Public Hospital in Westmoreland has been boosted through the establishment of a fully equipped Special Care Unit. The unit was set up through support from the Issa Trust Foundation, which also donated $24 million worth of critical care equipment such as nebulisers, ventilators, and warmers. It will provide treatment and care for premature...

Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, has invited members of the pharmaceutical industry to partner with the Government in facilitating the National Health Fund’s (NHF) Drug Serv counters in their establishments. He made the appeal during a ‘Meet the Minister’ luncheon forum with the industry players, at the Knutsford Court Hotel, in Kingston, on April 19. Dr. Tufton...

Minister of Energy, Science and Technology, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, says the final report from an investigation into contaminated gas discovered at several service stations last year, is complete and will be released soon. Dr. Wheatley made the disclosure during a keynote address at the half yearly meeting of the Jamaica Gasolene Retailers Association (JGRA), held at the Knutsford...

Energy, Science and Technology Minister, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, says several pieces of legislation are in the offing to transform Jamaica into a digital society. They include legislation to facilitate the development of the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, protection of data for increased online transactions and cyber security. “These areas are key to maximizing the use of...

With Jamaica near self-sufficiency in Irish potato production, the country is imparting its knowledge and techniques to other Caribbean countries. A 26-member delegation from Guyana, St. Lucia, and Dominica recently spent five days in the island, where they observed best practices in land preparation, harvesting, post harvesting; tissue culture techniques; and drip irrigation and water harvesting. The delegation, comprised of...