Jamaicans are being warned that electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are dangerous and should not be viewed as a viable option to regular cigarettes. In an interview with JIS News, Senior Medical Officer (SMO) of the National Chest Hospital, Dr. Terry Baker, said that although e-cigarettes have been put forward as a safer alternative to cigarettes, dangers still abound. “A number of...

Work is under way to retrofit all primary and secondary schools across the island with lifts and ramps to improve access by persons with disabilities. The initiative is being undertaken at a cost of $50 million by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information in collaboration with the Digicel Foundation. “It is in the budget for the next five years,”...

The Ministry of Health will be providing three research grants of up to $1.5 million each for tertiary students pursuing studies in specific areas. The grants are available to postgraduate students of the Northern Caribbean University; University of Technology; and the University of the West Indies, Mona, who propose to undertake studies related to the top-10 health priority areas of...

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund, William ‘Billy’ Heaven, says the organisation will continue to be unwavering in its support of early-childhood education in Jamaica. Speaking at the Dudley Grant Memorial Trust Early Childhood Development Conference 2017 held at the Iberostar Resort in Montego Bay on November 16, Mr. Heaven said the...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further improve the quality of services offered to vulnerable children and families. The two-year MoU entails the establishment of a referral system that facilitates social interventions for persons who are assessed and determined to be vulnerable....

Health Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, is calling for Jamaicans to practise responsible sexual behaviour in order to prevent new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. He said results from an HIV/AIDS Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviour Survey conducted for 2004, 2008 and 2012 indicate that the factors driving the epidemic have not changed over time, with continuing insufficient condom use...

Health Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says work to improve the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) in Montego Bay, St. James, is progressing, with certain areas to be completed soon. The areas include two operating theatres and a diagnostic facility. There will also be the replacement of outdated equipment, and an expanded accident and emergency section. “We’re going to see...