Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says that comprehensive tobacco legislation is coming next year. He said that the law will, among other things, restrict tobacco companies from advertising in certain settings. “(It) will require greater warning labels, which will do a number of things to get consumers clear in their minds what the consequences of consuming tobacco...

The Back Pasture to Brown’s Hall main road in St. Catherine is to be rehabilitated at a cost of $98 million. Member of Parliament for West Central St. Catherine, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, said bushing of the roadway has started, and pedestrians and motorists traversing the area will soon have a “much smoother” road surface. Dr. Tufton, who is...

Residents of Brown’s Hall in St. Catherine and surrounding communities will be getting free health services at the soon-to-be-established Friends of the Brown’s Hall Health Centre. Chairman and Managing Director of Kemteck Development and Construction Limited, Sylvester Tulloch, who is co-financing the $25-million health centre, said persons will receive optical and dental services, mammograms, antenatal care, home visits from a...

Cervical cancer survivor, Juliet Davis, is in support of the Health Ministry’s introduction of the bivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine being administered to thousands of grade-seven students across the island. Mrs. Davis, who was first diagnosed with the cancer in 2009 at the age of 49, says the vaccine would have been useful in reducing her chances of getting the...

The Caribbean Poison Information Network (CarPIN) is reporting that Jamaican decorative paints have been found to be virtually lead-free. Speaking in an interview with JIS News, Poison Information Coordinator at CarPIN, Sherika Whitelocke-Ballingsingh, said that this was one of the findings of a recent Lead in Paint Study that was conducted by CarPIN in collaboration with international non-governmental organisation (NGO)...

Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, is urging all Jamaicans to get regular health checks to facilitate early detection of diseases that may lay dormant in the body. “Do your health checks regularly, Jamaicans tend to go to the doctor only when they are sick, but taking responsibility means that at least once per year, you owe it to...

Regional Health and Education Promotion Officer at the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), Marceleen Wheatle, says primary- and high-school students in Hanover have been highly receptive of the Jamaica Moves programme. The initiative was introduced as a pilot at Hopewell High, Ruseas High, Merlene Ottey High, Green Island High, Green Island Primary, and Maryland All-Age, in September, as part of...