Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, says efforts to eliminate the discrimination and stigma associated with HIV/AIDS will only yield success when those most in need of medical care, support, and treatment, can access these without fear of victimization and ridicule. She emphasised this point in a speech delivered by Justice Minister, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, during...

As it continues to strengthen the multi-sectoral response to HIV/AIDS infection rates in Jamaica, the Government has budgeted $506 million for the Transitional Funding Mechanism programme. As contained in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure currently before the House of Representatives, existing gains consolidated, and activities scaled up to reduce transmission of new HIV infections, while mitigating the impact. The project,...

A sum of $262.5 million has been set aside in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives, to bolster the Ministry of Health’s capabilities to deliver critical services. The larger share of the sum, $162.5 million, will go towards the Disease Prevention and Control project, with the main objectives being to provide financial assistance through a...

Persons most at risk for contracting HIV are being targeted under a United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded programme. As outlined in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, the HIV Prevalence in Most-at-Risk Population Reduced programme, which runs from October, 2009 to September, 2014, will this financial year receive $294.1 million. The objectives of...

As the country strives to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) relating to the reduction of maternal and child mortality, a total of $102.9 million has been allotted to support this undertaking in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure. This will be carried out under the Reduction of Maternal and Child Mortality (PROMAC) in Jamaica programme, which began in April, 2013...

More than $1 billion will be spent this fiscal year to upgrade health facilities across the island. As outlined in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives, the project is being funded by the National Health Fund (NHF) and is being implemented by the Regional Health Authorities. Major project components are: sewage treatment improvement in health...

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, has called for a collaborative approach, to include non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the private sector in the Americas, to combat the introduction and spread of the Chikungunya (CHIK) disease. The Minister was participating in a Press tele-briefing on April 4 to launch World Health Day 2014, which is being observed on April 7,...