St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Denzil Douglas, has suggested that several key issues must be considered by Caribbean leaders and other stakeholders in developing a framework for reducing HIV/AIDS prevalence, and the associated stigma and discrimination, going forward. Key among these, he said, are: accelerated treatment and prevention regimes, activism, co-ordinated negotiations, sustainable financing mechanisms, and...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, says special provisions must be made, where necessary, to protect the welfare of persons who are among the most marginalised and disadvantaged. She underscored this point in a speech delivered by Justice Minister, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, during Wednesday’s (April 9) opening ceremony for the three-day Caribbean Consultation on Justice for...

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...

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson says while funding support from international agencies is crucial in combating HIV/AIDS, the country is taking gradual ownership of specific programmes related to the disease. The Health Minister was responding to questions during a Global Fund press briefing at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston on Wednesday, April 9. “In spite of the...

Jamaicans are being encouraged to enter the National Health Fund’s (NHF) 2014 ‘Work It Out Challenge’, as a means of reducing their risk of chronic illnesses and maintaining well-being. Entries for the challenge, which targets workplaces, will close on April 11. The competition, which involves teams of five, is set to start on April 26, and continue until October 11. There...

Region on Alert for New Vector-borne Disease  Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, with responsibility for Primary Healthcare Infrastructure, Hon. Luther Buchanan, is appealing to Jamaicans to protect themselves against an emerging vector-borne disease. According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), 10 countries in the region have recorded cases of the Chikungunya virus (commonly called Chick-V),...

A total of US$16 billion has been allocated for disbursement to small, developing states, like Jamaica, to fight debilitating diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The funds are being provided under The Global Fund’s revised financing model for 2014 to 2016, and are available for distribution to eligible nation states, with each country having a specific allotment, depending on...