Health Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says there has been positive stakeholder response to the Government’s invitation for participation in the Adopt-a-Clinic Initiative. A total of 100 of the country’s 320 public health centres have been shortlisted by the Government under the project, which seeks to attract and identify stakeholders who will adopt the facilities and provide the requisite...

The Registrar General’s Department (RGD) has completed the first phase of the Pilot of Online Verification of Birth, Death and Marriage Certificates and is now preparing to carry out phase two of the exercise. This is another of the RGD’s initiatives to further enhance its suite of services to its customers and to improve overall efficiency. The process allows for...

The Heart Foundation of Jamaica (JFJ) is imploring Jamaicans to be vigilant about their heart health and aware of the indicators that may point to the development or existence of cardiac conditions. Speaking with JIS News, Cardiologist at the HFJ, Dr. Rohan Wilks, says it is important that persons know their blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels, as these...

Four companies that produce sauces and spices are to receive food-safety certification this fiscal year as the Government works to increase the competitiveness of food-processing entities, particularly in the export markets. This will bring to six the number of firms in this industry to receive certification under the Economic Partnership Agreement II (EPA II) Capacity Building Project. The project aims...

The Government will be spending $647 million to carry out interventions in the 2018/19 fiscal year under its ‘HIV Prevalence in Most-at-Risk Population Reduced’ project. The funds have been provided in the Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives.  Anticipated targets for the fiscal year include: providing 1, 733 men who have sex with men (MSM) and 368...

The Ministry of Health’s programme to reduce new HIV infections among key populations has been boosted through a $758 million allocation for 2018/19. The provision has been made in the Estimates of Expenditure, which is now before the House of Representatives.  The allocation, under the ‘Support to the National HIV/AIDS Response in Jamaica’ project, will enable the Ministry to develop...

The Government will continue to upgrade health facilities to reduce neonatal deaths with a $759-million allocation in the 2018/2019 Budget, now before the House of Representatives. Under the Programme for Reduction of Maternal and Child Mortality (PROMAC), designs will be completed for 11 High Dependency Units (HDUs) at six hospitals, as well as procurement of equipment for the HDUs. Details...