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Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (right), and Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Fund (NHF) Everton Anderson (left), with Tanya Bourne, who emerged as the top female from the regional teams that entered the NHF’s Work-it-Out Challenge. Ms. Bourne was presented with her trophy, a cash prize of $55,000 and a Fitbit activity tracker device, during the awards ceremony for the competition at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston on Thursday (June 13).

Health Minister Encourages Corporate Jamaica to Develop Wellness Programmes

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton is encouraging corporate Jamaica to invest in the welfare of employees, by promoting health and wellness in the workplace, which will result in enhanced productivity. “I am issuing a challenge to...

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (second right), congratulates champion blood donor, Sonia Binns Lawrence (second left) on reaching the milestone of donating 100 units of blood to the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS). Occasion was a ceremony to observe World Blood Donor Day (June 14), which was held at the NBTS on Slipe Pen Road. Sharing the moment are NBTS Director, Dr. Michelle Hamilton (left) and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dunstan Bryan.

Young Persons Encouraged to Become Voluntary Blood Donors

Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Staff member, Andrae Palmer, donates blood at a drive organised by the JIS.

Members of the Public Encouraged to Donate Blood

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/World Health Organization (WHO) Representative, Dr. Bernadette Theodore-Gandi (right), speaks with Associate Vice President for Teaching and Learning, University of Technology (UTECH), Dr. Haldane Johnson (left); and Associate Professor and Dean, College of Health Sciences, UTECH, Dr. Janet Campbell- Shelly. The occasion was the opening ceremony for UTECH's inaugural Caregivers Symposium held on June 11 at the institution's campus in St. Andrew.

Caregivers Benefit from Mental Health Support

Director, Health Services, Planning and Integration in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr. Naydene Williams, delivers message from Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, at the opening of the First Caregivers Symposium on (Tuesday), June 11 at the University of Technology (UTech) in Kingston. The Symposium is being held from June 11 to 12 under the theme, ‘Supporting Your Own Mental Health as a Caregiver’.

Mental Health Act Being Amended

Representatives of the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) and National Family Planning Board (NFPB) sign documents formalising arrangements for the 2019 Reproductive Health Survey, From left are STATIN Legal Officer, Gillian Johns, and Director General, Carol Coy; and NFPB Board Member, Dr. Diana Thorburn, and Executive Director, Lovette Byfield. Looking on is NFPB Executive Secretary, Nadine Ellington. The signing took place at the Courtleigh Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (June 10).

7 years ago Health & WellnessVision 2030

Reproductive Health Survey to be Conducted

The 2019 Jamaica Reproductive Health Survey will be conducted over the next 16-months at a cost of over $72.4 million. The exercise will be spearheaded by the National Family Planning Board (NFPB), an agency of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, in tandem with the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN). It will be used to collate data related to, among...

Director General of the National Commission on Science and Technology (NCST), Professor Errol Morrison, addresses recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’. Professor Morrison said a new strain of ginger plant, which the Commission helped to develop, could launch a nutraceutical industry in Jamaica.

7 years ago Health & Wellness

Director General of NCST Highlights Importance of Nutraceuticals

Nutraceuticals could form the next national industry as the National Commission on Science and Technology’s (NCST’s) work in local science and technology development is ‘bearing fruit’, says NCST Director General, Professor Errol Morrison. “Jamaica claims that over 50 per cent of the plants that have been designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as having health benefits is available right...

Health and Wellness Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (centre, front row) and British High Commissioner to Jamaica, His Excellency Asif Ahmad (fifth left), with critical care nurses, nurse educators and other health officials who were in attendance at a farewell reception for 13 critical care nurses and two nurse educators who will leave the island for the United Kingdom (UK) on Wednesday (June 12) to receive specialised training at the Leeds Teaching Hospital. The reception was held at the British High Commission in Kingston on Thursday (June 6).

7 years ago Health & Wellness

Critical Care Nurses Leave for More Specialised Training

Thirteen critical care nurses and two nurse educators will head to the United Kingdom (UK) on Wednesday (June 12), to receive further specialised training at the Leeds Teaching Hospital. This bilateral arrangement has been facilitated under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the Government of Jamaica, through the Ministry of Health and Wellness, and the Government of the UK....

Health and Wellness Minister, Dr. The Hon. Christopher Tufton (right), presents grade-four student at Morgan’s Pass Primary in Clarendon, Trevor Simpson (centre), with the platinum award for the institution

7 years ago EducationHealth & WellnessYouth

83 Schools Awarded for Implementing Healthy Lifestyle Initiatives

Eighty-three schools across the island have been rewarded for their efforts in executing the five components of the Ministry of Health and Wellness ‘Promoting Healthy Lifestyles in Schools’ initiative. The components are the implementation of: sugar-sweetened beverages guidelines, water day, fruit/vegetable day, five-minute breaks and one-hour breaks. Platinum, gold, silver and bronze awards were presented, respectively, for full implementation of...

Member of Parliament for East Central St. Catherine, Hon. Alando Terrelonge (third left), converses with volunteers in the Gregory Park community in St. Catherine who are involved in a project to replace zinc fences with concrete walls. At right is Councillor for the Gregory Park Division, Joy Brown.

7 years ago CommunityHealth & Wellness

Zinc Fences Being Removed in Gregory Park

The community of Gregory Park, in St. Catherine, is undergoing a zinc fence removal exercise, in addition to the general beautification of the area. Under the project, being carried out by the political representatives and volunteers from the community, concrete walls are replacing the zinc fences, overgrown trees are being cut and drains cleaned. “We are pulling down the zinc,...

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (left), converses with Professor of Public Health at the University of Technology (UTech), Fitzroy Henry and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Jamaica, Dr. Bermadette Theodore-Gandhi, at the opening of a two-day Regional Meeting on ‘Reduction of Salt for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) today (June 4), at the University of the West Indies in St. Andrew. The meeting is organised by the Caribbean Institute for Health Research (CAIHR).

7 years ago Health & Wellness

Health and Wellness Ministry to Implement Salt Reduction Programme

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says that as part of continuous measures to combat non-communicable diseases (NCDs), the Ministry will be implementing a National Salt Reduction Programme. Speaking at the opening of a two-day Regional Meeting on ‘Reduction of Salt for Prevention and Control of NCDs’ at the University of the West Indies in St....

Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to Jamaica, Her Excellency Ines Fors Fernandez (third left), with five of the eight medical students, receiving scholarships to pursue studies in neighbouring island, beginning in September. From left are: Satasha Hutchinson, Marianne Binta Konate Hernandez, Amanda Bradley, Dominique Whitely and Donorio Hartley. The scholarships, which have been awarded under the Jamaica/Cuba Bilateral Medical Scholarship Programme, were presented during a ceremony at the Cuban Embassy in Kingston on May 31.

7 years ago EducationForeign AffairsHealth & WellnessVision 2030Youth

Eight Medical Students Awarded Cuban Scholarships

Seven young Jamaican students will have the opportunity to pursue studies in Cuba under the Jamaica/Cuba Bilateral Medical Scholarship Programme, beginning in September. Amanda Bradley, Dominique Whitely, Deanroy Clarke, Donorio Hartley, Satasha Hutchinson, Kerrylee Jones and Naifa Murray are this year’s awardees. They were selected from some 200 students who applied. Another student, Marianne Binta Konate Hernandez, a Jamaican resident...