Approximately $700 million was spent to refurbish 128 health centres last year, under the Primary Health Care Infrastructure Renewal Programme. The programme is expected to pave the way for significant changes to the current system. This was disclosed by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, while delivering the Throne Speech at Gordon House on February 19. “To...

The National Family Planning Board (NFPB) is reporting an increase in contraceptive use among Jamaican women. The most recent statistics show that 85 per cent of women have used a contraceptive method and up to 88 per cent use it regardless of educational level. The data also show that 73 per cent of women in a union are using contraceptives....

The National Health Fund (NHF) provided $51.8 million in medication subsidy for persons with epilepsy during the period April 2014 to January 2015. There were 45,122 claims over the nine-month period and 6,195 claimants. NHF Chief Executive Officer, Everton Anderson, informed that the fund enrolls about 1,200 persons with epilepsy each year and the number stood at 13,059 as at...

The Ebola isolation unit and triage, being established at the Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay, should be up and ready by the middle of this month. Chief Executive Officer at the hospital, Anthony Smykle, told JIS News that the facility is almost complete. “It just needs minor fixtures to be put in place and certainly, by the middle of...

Regional Psychiatrist with the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), Dr. Lizbeth Crossman, is appealing to parents and teachers to engage children in education on the dangers of drug misuse from as early as basic school. In an interview with JIS News, Dr. Crossman said “the ways in which young people use and misuse drugs are usually dependent on what knowledge...

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, says during the next fiscal year, renewed focus and emphasis will be placed on addressing areas within the health sector, particularly mental health. “I expect that this year’s budget will be considerably more favourable than past years and the health sector in general will be better represented, so we can address some of...

The Heart Foundation of Jamaica (HFJ) is encouraging Jamaicans to recognise the medicinal value of food and use it to their advantage. Nutritionist at the HFJ, Francis Mahfood, said that people are consuming too much food and are eating the wrong things, and more emphasis should be placed on nutrition. “The most important foods to include in your diet are...