Cabinet has approved the establishment and appointment of a National Health Fund (NHF) Institutional Benefits Projects Review Team. The team will serve for one year and include Peter Jarvis (Chairman), Christopher Zacca, Gary Hendrickson, Dr. Ernest Pate, Dr. Lundie Richards, Patrick Lawrence, Dr. Kurdell Espinosa, and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health. According to a Cabinet Ministry Paper tabled...

Teen mothers attending Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation (WCJF) facilities across the island are benefiting from training to better help them to stimulate their babies and support their development. The training sessions are being conducted by Early Childhood Commission (ECC) development officers using the ‘Parenting Programme in Health Centres – What You Do With Baby Matters’ training package developed by...

The National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA) is advocating for the enforcement of the laws that relate to drug use to stem the tide of increased misuse of drugs, particularly among young Jamaican males. Executive Director of the NCDA, Michael Tucker, told JIS News that the enforcement of laws regarding underage drug use is something that is essential to prevent...

In October 2015, Hospiten, a $2.3-billion state-of-the-art private hospital, opened its doors in Rose Hall, St. James. Government officials and a number of dignitaries were on hand to welcome what was described as an important addition to the health sector and a world-class facility that would significantly improve Jamaica’s chances of tapping into the lucrative wellness-tourism market. Only recently, Tourism...

Jamaicans are being warned about the dangers of third-hand smoke, which is an emerging concern in public health regarding tobacco use. Third-hand smoke is defined as residual tobacco smoke contamination that remains after the cigarette has been extinguished. In an interview with JIS News, Senior Medical Officer (SMO) at the National Chest Hospital, Dr. Terry Baker, said that third-hand smoke...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Shahine Robinson, is appealing to residents of St. Ann to make greater use of the community health centres in order to reduce overcrowding at the hospitals. She noted that the clinics provide quality care, and doctors at the facilities will refer persons to a hospital for advanced treatment if needed. “There are times...

Alcohol continues to be the most widely used drug in Jamaica, with 40 per cent of the population or four out of every 10 people reporting that they currently use the substance. This is according to the most recent Household Drug Survey conducted by the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA). Seventy-five per cent of the population said that they...