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PHOTO: Mandeville Regional Hospital Gets Wellness Bench

Minister of State, Ministry of Health and Wellness, Hon. Krystal Lee (second right), applauds the unveiling of a new wellness bench at the Mandeville Regional Hospital in Manchester. Removing the cover to reveal the seating are (from left) Chief Executive...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Hon. Krystal Lee (right) presents a copy of the National Strategic Plan for HIV 2023-2030, to Country Representative for the Pan-American Organization (PAHO), Ian Stein (centre), while Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Errol Greene, shares the moment. Occasion was the launch of the Plan on Monday (February 9), at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

Gov’t Targets 40 Per Cent Reduction In New HIV Infections By 2030

Senior Clinical Psychologist at the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), Georgia Rose.

Senior Clinical Psychologist Encourages Healthy Co-Parenting

Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Hon. Krystal Lee (left), commends Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA) staff, who designed the new Computerised Maintenance Management System, following the launch at the SRHA offices in Mandeville, Manchester, on Thursday (February 5). They are (from second left) Rohan Smith, Toni-Ann Rodney, Ryan Dixon, Saede Nisbeth, O'Nelia Caballero and Jozané Bryan.

SRHA Launches Homegrown Maintenance Management System

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Hon. Christopher Tufton (second left), is joined by (l-r) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Health Fund (NHF), Everton Anderson; CEO and Founder of Judah 1, Everett Aaron; and Chief Operating Officer at Kennedy International Logistics and Services, Christie Hutcherson, in displaying images of the medical dome, which will be erected on the grounds of the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) in Montego Bay, St. James, The occasion was a media briefing held at the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA) Technical Office at the Freeport Business Centre in St. James on Saturday (Feb. 7).

Cornwall Hospital Grounds Being Prepared for Installation of Medical Dome

The Percy Junor Hospital in Manchester has been accredited as a baby-friendly institution, becoming the 12th local public hospital to be certified under the global initiative.
A programme of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) recognises health facilities that provide optimal care for mothers and newborns and actively support breastfeeding.
The initiative promotes practices that have proven to improve infant survival and long-term health outcomes. These include early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and continued breastfeeding with appropriate complementary foods for up to two years or beyond.
Speaking at the accreditation ceremony held at the hospital in Spalding on Thursday (Feb. 5), Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, congratulated the management and staff of Percy Junor Hospital on the achievement, noting that it reflects a commitment to quality standards in infant and maternal care.
He noted that the accreditation aligns with the Ministry’s broader strategy to reduce infant mortality, improve maternal health outcomes, and strengthen quality standards across the public health system.
Dr. Tufton said that Percy Junor’s accreditation takes the country just over the half mark in terms of the number of hospitals in the country that are baby-friendly certified.
He noted that when he took office in 2016, only one of the island’s 23 hospitals had baby-friendly designation.
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“Today, there are 12 hospitals that have baby-friendly designation. That’s a big deal! It means that we are improving standards...it means that the team in the respective institutions are doing the work, have been provided with the support, whether through our external agencies, our region, or the Ministry,” Dr. Tufton said.
“Today, I challenge the remaining 11 institutions, over the next three to five years – and I hope it’s more three than five – to make us complete ... by doing the necessary work to achieve baby-friendly status,” he urged.
“If 12 hospitals can achieve baby-friendly status, 23 can achieve baby-friendly status. If the people in 12 can do the work to get it done, the remaining 11 can do the work to get it done,” he expressed.
Noting that Percy Junor Hospital has seen a 64 per cent decline in births from 201 in 2024 to 71 in 2025, Dr. Tufton urged the community health aides to go into the communities to engage with families and promote responsible child-rearing.
“Our job is to promote responsible parenting, not just to have children for children’s sake… It raises a fundamental issue that we have to manage, as part of public health… that health is about community. That’s why health centres and community hospitals are so important, because you are the heartbeat, so to speak, of your community. And, you’re going to be called on more to provide guidance to those who need guidance,” he said.
“We represent the credibility factor of most communities. We must leverage the credibility that we represent, by spending more time in the community, to talk to people, to encourage families, to encourage responsible parenting and to say to people, ‘It’s okay to have children, and there is a way to be responsible as a parent, and to grow your child to a point where you can achieve the bragging rights that you deserve,” he said.

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For her part, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Percy Junor Hospital, Faith Sterling, expressed pleasure at the hospital’s baby-friendly accreditation.
“I am absolutely elated. This does not only mean that our standards have been raised. It means a positive paradigm shift in the right direction in becoming a first-class hospital in not only Jamaica, but the Caribbean,” she told JIS News.

3 months ago Health & Wellness

Percy Junor Hospital Becomes 12th Baby-Friendly Certified Institution

The Percy Junor Hospital in Manchester has been accredited as a baby-friendly institution, becoming the 12th local public hospital to be certified under the global initiative. A programme of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) recognises health facilities that provide optimal care for mothers and newborns and actively support...

Consultant General Surgeon, Dr. Hugh Anthony Roberts (standing right), engages in discussion with women who attended the World Cancer Day observance at the Jamaica Cancer Society in Kingston on Wednesday (February 4).

3 months ago Health & Wellness

Jamaica Cancer Society Marks World Cancer Day (Photos Only)

Consultant General Surgeon, Dr. Hugh Anthony Roberts (standing right), engages in discussion with women who attended the World Cancer Day observance at the Jamaica Cancer Society in Kingston on Wednesday (February 4).

Chief Executive Officer for the Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital in Westmoreland, Roan Grant, addresses a press briefing hosted at the facility on Thursday (February 5) by Westmoreland Public Health Services and the Canadian medical volunteer group, Team Broken Earth.

3 months ago Health & Wellness

Team Broken Earth Supports Patient Care at Savanna-La-Mar Public General Hospital

The deployment of a medical team from Canada-based humanitarian organisation Team Broken Earth has significantly strengthened patient care and eased staffing pressures at the Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital in Westmoreland. The team, which was on the island for one week, worked alongside local medical personnel in the accident and emergency department, internal medicine, paediatrics and other wards, assisting with patient...

Regional Priority Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)/Family Health Coordinator at the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), Dr. Marcia Johnson-Campbell.

3 months ago Health & Wellness

Strong Support System Important for Cancer Patients

Mental healthcare and strong community support systems are critical components of cancer treatment and recovery, says Regional Priority Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD)/Family Health Coordinator at the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), Dr. Marcia Johnson-Campbell. Speaking with JIS News on World Cancer Day (February 4), under the theme ‘United by Unique’, Dr. Johnson-Campbell emphasised that cancer affects patients emotionally, socially and financially,...

3 months ago Health & Wellness

Importance of Early Cancer Screenings and Detection Highlighted

Cancer is increasingly affecting younger Jamaicans, a trend that health officials say underscores the urgency of early detection, public awareness and strengthened healthcare systems. Regional Priority Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)/Family Health Coordinator at the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), Dr. Marcia Johnson-Campbell, told JIS News that the perception that cancer is primarily a disease of older people, is a thing of...

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton.

3 months ago Health & WellnessYouth

Health Community Urged to Lobby for Regulation of Social Media Access Among Youth

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, has called on health professionals to add their voices to the push for regulation of social media use among children 16 years and under as a mental health imperative. “I believe that the time has come for health to be part of that lobby, to say, ‘if you’re 16 years...

Consultant Cardiologist and Heart Foundation of Jamaica (HFJ) Chairman, Dr. Andrine Chung, addresses a JIS Think Tank on Tuesday (February 3).

3 months ago Health & Wellness

HFJ Urges Jamaicans to Learn How to Identify a Heart Attack

The Heart Foundation of Jamaica (HFJ) is encouraging Jamaicans to learn the warning signs of a heart attack, know their personal risk factors, seek early medical attention when symptoms occur, and take steps to reduce their risk. Speaking at a JIS Think Tank on Tuesday (February 3), Consultant Cardiologist and HFJ Chairman, Dr. Andrine Chung, said that there is significant...