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...

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, has assured residents of Callaloo Mews, Spanish Town Road, that immediate vector control measures will be taken to tackle the mosquito nuisance affecting their community. The residents had complained about the issue earlier in the week, and the Minister visited the area on Friday, April 4, to inform them about the action that...

Funds are being set aside in the 2014/15 budget to rehabilitate the Cambridge Health Centre in South St. James, under a major Ministry of Health and National Health Fund (NHF) joint project. Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, with responsibility for Primary Health Care Infrastructure, Hon. Luther Buchanan says discussions are well advanced with the NHF...

Youngsters in public and private child care facilities across the island were given an opportunity to showcase their artistic talent while demonstrating their knowledge of drug abuse and HIV/AIDS through a poster competition. The competition, launched by the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA), saw entries from the St. Augustine Place of Safety in Clarendon, Garland Hall Home in Westmoreland,...