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The government will be strengthening the national response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic for the 2012/13 fiscal year. To this end, $743.6 million has been provided in the Estimates of Expenditure, which is now before the House of Representatives, for the Scaling Up to Provide Universal Access for HIV Treatment, Care and Prevention Service (Global Fund II) Project. The project, which...

A total of $259.94 million has been set aside in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, to fund the Jamaica HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Programme. The programme aims to curb the spread of the HIV epidemic, improve treatment care and support for persons living with HIV/AIDS, and to strengthen Jamaica’s capacity to respond to the...

Over the years, HIV has become a significant health, economic and workplace issue with the potential to negatively affect productivity and development. Stigma and discrimination help to fuel the spread of HIV, standing as major obstacles to prevention services as well as to treatment, care and support for people living with the virus. While there is no cure for HIV,...

The government is putting several strategies in place to tackle non-communicable diseases (NCDs), also called lifestyle illnesses. These conditions are responsible for the majority of deaths locally, and are also putting a strain on the public purse, costing the government billions of dollars per year to provide treatment.  According to Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, chronic conditions such as...

Minister of Education, Rev. Hon. Ronald Thwaites, says the Ministry is seeking to have the benefits of students under the Programme for Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) increased, particularly the nutrition component. He said this is critical as students’ ability to learn is often severely impacted by the lack of proper nutrition. “If parents and the entire culture will...

Fifteen volunteer donor managers were recently trained by the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), as the organisation looks to boost blood collection to 38,000 units this year from 29,500 units in 2011. In an interview with JIS News, Director at the NBTS, Angela Scott, said the service wants to ensure that it has adequate amounts of safe blood and blood...

Mayor of Portmore, George Lee says the council will be launching a comprehensive eradication campaign in the municipality aimed at getting rid of, or drastically reducing the mosquito population in the densely populated community. Mayor Lee said part of the strategy to be adopted will include a collaborative effort with the Ministry of Health to acquire spray equipment and train...

Six per cent of deaths worldwide are attributed to physical inactivity, which is said to be the principal cause of approximately 25 per cent of breast and colon cancers, 27 per cent of diabetes and 30 per cent of heart diseases. The World Health Organisation (WHO) also states that physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality....

The Government is redoubling its efforts to ensure that members of the disabled community have greater access to health facilities and services. To this end, Health Minister, the Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, has informed that healthcare workers in all health regions are receiving training to equip them with skills to better serve persons with disabilities. "Thus far, 146 workers have...

The Port Morant health centre in St. Thomas was officially re-opened to the public on May 3, following an extensive renovation exercise. The centre, which was closed for repairs in January 2011, was re-opened by Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson. Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Ferguson said the health centre will assist in providing community based interventions to tackle...

Health Minister, Hon Dr. Fenton Ferguson, said the government is "profoundly concerned" about the devastating impact of smoking and the fact that more teenagers are abusing tobacco.  “It is with alarm that I have observed that the 13 to 15 age cohort is the group being seduced into the practice of tobacco use and the products are becoming more and...

Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, said that two studies will be undertaken to determine the state’s ability to adequately fund quality healthcare across the system. Speaking at a press conference at his downtown Kingston offices on May 4, the Health Minister said that while the administration is strongly committed to the no user fees policy at the primary level,...