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Executive Director of the National Family Planning Board (NFPB), Dr. Denise Chevannes (second right), presents Executive Director of the Social Development Commission (SDC) Dr. Dwayne Vernon (second left), with a copy of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which they signed on May 5, to signal their collaboration in conducting a series of islandwide public consultations on the development of Jamaica’s first Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Policy, and revision of the National HIV/AIDS Policy. Also pictured (from left) are: Senior Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Nicola Skyers; and Director, Enabling Environment and Human Rights, NFPB, Devon Gabourel. The signing took place during a ceremony at the offices of the SDC in Kingston.
Executive Director of the National Family Planning Board (NFPB), Dr. Denise Chevannes (second right), presents Executive Director of the Social Development Commission (SDC) Dr. Dwayne Vernon (second left), with a copy of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which they signed on May 5, to signal their collaboration in conducting a series of islandwide public consultations on the development of Jamaica’s first Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Policy, and revision of the National HIV/AIDS Policy. Also pictured (from left) are: Senior Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Nicola Skyers; and Director, Enabling Environment and Human Rights, NFPB, Devon Gabourel. The signing took place during a ceremony at the offices of the SDC in Kingston.

Gov’t to hold Public Consultations on Sexual Reproductive Health and HIV Policies

Citizens will have the opportunity to contribute to the development of Jamaica’s first Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Policy and the revision of the National HIV/AIDS Policy through a series of islandwide public consultations. The first of 13 public discussion...
Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (left), in conversation with Head of the Department of Internal Medicine and consultant nephrologist, Dr. Curtis Yeats (centre) and Chief Executive Officer, Anthony Smikle, during a tour of the medical records department of the Cornwall Regional Hospital, in Montego Bay, on April 28.
Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (left), in conversation with Head of the Department of Internal Medicine and consultant nephrologist, Dr. Curtis Yeats (centre) and Chief Executive Officer, Anthony Smikle, during a tour of the medical records department of the Cornwall Regional Hospital, in Montego Bay, on April 28.

Changes Coming at Public Health Institutions
Professor of Child Health, Child Development and Behavior at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Maureen Samms-Vaughan.
Professor of Child Health, Child Development and Behavior at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Maureen Samms-Vaughan.

Look Out for Signs of Autism
Health Promotion Manager, National Health Fund, Shermaine Robotham (right) presents a prize to Vice Principal, Port Morant Primary School, Colin Mullings during the Ministry of Health’s Zika Public Education and Awareness Selfie and Jingle competitions award ceremony held at the Medallion Hall Hotel in Kingston on April 8. Others sharing in the moment are members of the winning team Amoya Wong and Shaneika Bleeching (second left).
Health Promotion Manager, National Health Fund, Shermaine Robotham (right) presents a prize to Vice Principal, Port Morant Primary School, Colin Mullings during the Ministry of Health’s Zika Public Education and Awareness Selfie and Jingle competitions award ceremony held at the Medallion Hall Hotel in Kingston on April 8. Others sharing in the moment are members of the winning team Amoya Wong and Shaneika Bleeching (second left).

St. Alban’s Primary and Port Morant Primary Win Ministry of Health Competition
Honorary Life President of the Jamaica Diabetes Association, Professor Errol Morrison, speaking at a recent JIS ‘Think Tank’. The Diabetes Conference will be held from April 28-30 in St. James.
Honorary Life President of the Jamaica Diabetes Association, Professor Errol Morrison, speaking at a recent JIS ‘Think Tank’. The Diabetes Conference will be held from April 28-30 in St. James.

Diabetes Conference April 28-30

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Health & Wellness

Jamaicans Must Take Diabetes Seriously – Professor Morrison

“I only have a touch of sugar,” is how many Jamaicans with diabetes describe their condition. However, leading expert in diabetes research and treatment, Professor Errol Morrison, says there is no such thing as a “touch” of diabetes.  “This is a very big misconception,” he tells JIS News. He notes that diabetes is a serious, potentially life-threatening illness, which must...
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Budget 2016/2017Health & Wellness

More Training for Public Health Officials

Public health officials are to receive further training this fiscal year in food safety and other related standards under the European Development Fund (EDF) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Capacity Building Project. This is being done in a bid to increase awareness of international standards and technical requirements in the public sector, in relation to food safety as well as animal...
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Minister of Health, Dr. Hon. Christopher Tufton (left) converses with Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Carissa F. Etienne (second right) during the official launch of the 14th Vaccination Week in the Americas at the Emancipation Park in New Kingston on April 23. Others sharing in the moment (from second left) are: PAHO/ World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Jamaica, Dr. Noreen Jack and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Kevin Harvey. Vaccination Week in the Americas is commemorated annually during the last week of April and is used to promote the benefits of vaccination. The 14th Vaccination Week in the Americas is being celebrated from April 23 to April 30.
Health & Wellness

Health Ministry to Improve Access to Non Traditional Forms of Vaccines

The Ministry of Health is looking at improving access to non-traditional forms of vaccines to the Jamaican population. Speaking at the launch of the 14th Vaccination Week in the Americas, Portfolio Minister, Dr. Hon. Christopher Tufton said, offering these non-traditional vaccines “as part of our routine administration to the population” is crucial particularly in light of the increasing disease migration....
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Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton.
Health & Wellness

Vaccines Save Lives – Dr. Tufton

Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says immunisation is one of the most successful and cost-effective health interventions, which saves the lives of some three million children in the Americas each year. He was speaking at the launch of Vaccination Week in the Americas at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston on Thursday, April 21. Dr. Tufton stated...
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Research Analyst at the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA), Uki Atkinson.
Health & Wellness

NCDA Urges Public to take Part in Drug Prevalence Survey

The National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA) is urging members of the public to participate in the National Drug Prevalence Survey, as the results will inform policy decisions. The survey, which is underway, seeks to determine the extent of drug use among the Jamaican population, aged 12-65 years, with a particular focus on marijuana use and attitudes toward the recent...
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Budget 2016/2017Health & Wellness

$26 Million to Strengthen Health Systems

The Government has allocated more than $26 million to strengthen Jamaica’s health systems, through the development of a 10-year Strategic Development Plan for the sector. This is contained in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled in the House of Representatives on April 14. Under the project, titled ‘Strengthening of Health Systems in Jamaica’, there will also be the creation of...
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