Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda (centre), plants a Poor Man’s Orchid sapling, during the National Health Fund (NHF) Tree-Planting Initiative launch ceremony at the Drug Serv Greater Portmore Health Centre in St. Catherine, on June 6. Assisting (from left) are NHF Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Everton Anderson and...

Wife of the Governor-General, Her Excellency, the Most Hon. Lady Allen (third right), examines products being displayed by Facey Pharmaceutical during a health fair and open day at the Bustamante Hospital for Children on May 31, to commemorate the institution’s 60th anniversary. Looking on (from left) are Facey Pharmaceutical Sales Ambassador, Olivia Pyne; the Hospital’s Senior Medical Officer (SMO), Dr....

Assistant Chief Education Officer, Ministry of Education and Youth, Kennedy Davison (right), communicates by sign language with student at Lister Mair/Gilby High School for the Deaf, Sapphire Ennis, during a Child Conversation session with special needs students held at the institution in St. Andrew on Wednesday (May 31). The session formed part of the Ministry’s activities to celebrate Child Month...

Regional and sub-regional partnerships should seek to take steps to address challenges that were experienced by countries with limited capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent these from reoccurring, according to Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton.  These issues, Dr. Tufton notes, relate to equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics, while citing stakeholder intervention as...

There are renewed calls for the population to eat healthy foods for sustainable health and well-being and to pay careful attention to labels on food packages. Leading the charge at the Caribbean Nutrition Day, held at the St. William Grant Park in downtown Kingston on June 1, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie said with the prevalence of non-communicable...

Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Paulette Spencer Smith (left), addresses the World No Tobacco Day Youth Forum on Wednesday (May 31), at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingstown. Listening (from second left) are PAHO/WHO Country Representative, Ian Stein; Executive Director, Physical Therapy Solutions, Dr. Bernadette Bryan Frankson; Executive Director, National Council on Drug Abuse...

The National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA) has launched an Anti-Vaping Campaign in Westmoreland, to help combat the increased use of electronic cigarettes among youth in the parish. The initiative, which began with a public education session on Monday (May 29) at the Westmoreland Justice Centre in Savanna-la-Mar, is expected to last for between six months and a year. It...

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, is urging increased awareness and action among the youth in resisting the harmful long-term health effects of the use of e-cigarettes and vaping. In his message at the World No Tobacco Day Youth Forum at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Wednesday (May 31), Minister Tufton highlighted the...

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is stepping up its immunisation programme to reach children and adults who might have missed doses during the pandemic. Director of Family Health Services in the Ministry, Dr. Melody Ennis, told JIS News that vaccine outreach centres have been established in parishes, and arrangements can also be made with the health departments to facilitate...