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 There will also be the replacement of outdated equipment, and an expanded accident and emergency section.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...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is looking to diversify cash disbursement options for beneficiaries of the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH). The Ministry has targeted an initial 3,000 beneficiaries for promotional day activities, which include collaborations with mobile money service providers as a potential option for PATH payments. Mobile Money is an electronic wallet service...

Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, has commended National Baking Company for responding to the need to reduce non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among Jamaicans through its ‘Balance Your Life’ campaign. The initiative, which was launched on Tuesday (November 14) at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, will provide consumers with information on how to make healthy consumption choices...

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Sancia Bennett Templer, is calling on healthcare professionals to play their part in reducing antibiotic resistance by only prescribing and dispensing antibiotics when they are needed, and in accordance with current guidelines. “The ripple effect of antibiotic resistance is enormous, as when medications do not work as they should, the treatment process takes...

The public is being urged to take greater responsibility in the use of antibiotics to prevent the further occurrence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Antimicrobial resistance is the ability of a microorganism (bacterium, virus and some parasites) to prevent antibiotics, antivirals and antimalarials from working against it. As a result, standard treatments become ineffective, infections persist and may spread to others....

The Noel Holmes Hospital in Lucea, Hanover, recently received a new state-of-the-art ambulance, courtesy of the United Kingdom (UK) Chapter of the Friends of Noel Holmes Hospital. The official handover of the ambulance was held on November 10, on the grounds of the hospital. The acquisition of the vehicle, which is valued at £40,000, was the brainchild of founder and...