The Government is soon to establish a National Drug Research Network, comprising academia and technical experts. This body is intended to tackle drug use in the island, according to Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton. He said the Network’s task will go beyond prevalence studies and delve deeply into drug use, particularly in the high-risk areas...

Government Senator, Kavan Gayle, has called for the reintroduction of the revised Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) in Parliament. The legislation, aimed at promoting and maintaining a safe and healthy working environment in Jamaica, was initially tabled in 2017. After thorough scrutiny by a Joint Select Committee of Parliament, the Bill underwent substantive amendments. Senator Gayle, who opened the 2024/25...

Fifty-two Community Health Aides (CHAs) from the Hanover Health Department have been recognised for their exceptional contributions to community healthcare in the parish. The appreciation event was held on Thursday, November 7, at the Lucea United Church Hall, where the CHAs were commended for their dedication and commitment to local health services. It was held as part of activities to mark CHAs...

Jamaicans are being urged not to swim or bathe in stagnant water following the recent passage of Tropical Storm Rafael. Health Education and Promotion Officer at the Westmoreland Health Department, Gerald Miller, said playing in or swimming in stagnant water is a risk factor for contracting leptospirosis from rat urine. “You might have the rat’s habitat being disturbed and they...

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is partnering with Hartford HealthCare Corporation in the United States (US) to leverage cutting-edge technology in the training of professionals in the local health sector. The collaboration, which stems from an initial arrangement in 2020, will revolutionise the way Jamaica's doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals are trained, through the introduction of Hartford HealthCare’s...

The Carnegie Foundation for Cancer Research (CFCR) hosted the 9th edition of the Carnegie Lectures on November 7, at the Northern Caribbean University in Mandeville, Manchester. This annual event brought together medical professionals, researchers, and the public to raise awareness about cancers, their causes, and the latest developments in treatment and prevention. During his presentation on the relationship between cancer...

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (right), addresses staff at the Spanish Town Hospital in St. Catherine, during a visit to the facility on Wednesday (November 6). The institution is undergoing a $5.5 billion redevelopment. The hospital benefits thousands of people who rely on its services for care and is pivotal to the health system’s overall...