The National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA) is reporting changes in the content, composition and varieties of narcotics surfacing on the nation’s streets. Substance Abuse Officer at the NCDA, Daniel Brown, noted for example that the variety of marijuana being consumed is to a great extent “much different from (the type used) years ago.” Mr. Brown said research shows that...

World AIDS Day 2015 is being commemorated under the theme, “Take care of the complete you: ask for a HIV test too”. This year, the Ministry of Health will focus on a wellness and preventative drive that will be supported by mass media as well as community mobilization which aims to increase the number of persons with HIV knowing their...

Jamaica AIDS Support for Life says gender-based violence (GBV) or its threat is likely to increase a woman’s vulnerability to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by making it difficult or impossible to set the terms of an equal relationship. According to Research and Communications Coordinator at Jamaica AIDS Support for Life, Nicolette Jones, it is more difficult for women to...

The Save-A-Youth Foundation is looking to raise funds to assist three young kidney patients with dialysis treatment. The support is among two major initiatives that the non-profit organisation intends to undertake in 2016. The other venture is a national blood drive to benefit hospitals. Pastor Omar Oliphant, who spearheads Save-A-Youth, tells JIS News that the support for the kidney patients...

Cabinet has approved the appointment of new Boards of Management for the University Hospital of the West Indies and the Western Regional Health Authority. The new Board for the Western Regional Health Authority Board will be chaired by Hotelier Mr. Tony Hart. Other members are: Merrick Fray - Businessman Desmond Leakey - Farmer Norman Wayne Vaccianna- Businessman Dr Roy McGregor...

In another two years, key stakeholders in the health sector will be equipped with informed data on eating patterns of Jamaicans aged 16-60, courtesy of a National Health Fund (NHF) $14.6 million survey being undertaken by the University of Technology (UTech). Under the project called JA-LIVITY, spearheaded by the College of Health Sciences at UTech, several entities dealing with health...

Minister of Health, Hon. Horace Dalley met with the eight families of the babies who died during a bacterial infection outbreak at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the University Hospital of the West Indies. The meeting which lasted close to three hours took place at the UHWI Board Room on Thursday, November 12, 2015. Minister Dalley empathised with the mothers...