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Minister of Health, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, has appealed to Jamaican women to get tested for HIV, and to take more responsibility for their sexual behaviour by using a condom during sexual encounters. The call came as the nation observes Safer Sex Week, February 7-14, under the theme, "Smarter Women Always Buy, Carry and Use Condoms." Mr. Spencer said that the...

For a person who has been smoking for many years, sticking to a decision to quit is one of the most difficult undertakings he or she must endure. But, for those who succeed, the rewards can be great, particularly in the area of health, where quitting can save their lives. Before May 2008, Engineering Technician, 35 year-old David Reid* had...

Minister of Health, the Hon Rudyard Spencer, has congratulated the Registrar General's Department (RGD) on the commissioning of a voice over internet protocol (VOIP) telephony system, which makes available 110 new telephone lines for customers. "Today, the Registrar General's Department is pleased to inform the public that the new telephone system will be officially opened, and landline telephone service is...

The Southern Regional Health Foundation has established its St. Elizabeth Chapter, aimed at supporting and promoting development of public health services in the parish. At the launch held at the Ashton Great House, on Thursday, (January 28) in the parish, Custos of St. Elizabeth, Hon. Alfred Farquharson, said he was confident that individuals and groups will work with the Foundation...

Minister of Health, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, says the time has come for clinicians and academics across Jamaica and the Caribbean to partner with Governments to provide health care that reach more people at a lower cost. This, he said, as access to health care is a basic right. He was giving the main address at the official opening ceremony for...

Although it is still early days, many persons are already bemoaning what they see as the insufficient strides made towards achieving the resolutions they set at the start of the new year. High on this ambitious list for some, are wellness related goals. This according to the World Health Organization (WHO) is not just merely the absence of disease or...

Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding (centre), engages Cuba's Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Yuri Gala López (left), and Minister of Health, Hon. Rudyard Spencer (right), during the ceremony to officially open the Jamaica/Cuba Ophthalmology Centre on the lawns of the St. Joseph's Hospital in east Kingston, on Wednesday (January 27) . The Centre falls under the Jamaica/Cuba Eye Care...

President of the Caribbean Institute of Nephrology, Professor Edward Barton, has said that the 2nd Annual Conference on Nephrology and Hypertension, at the Rose Hall Resort and Spa in Montego Bay St. James, (January 25- 27), must emphasise the significance of preventing diseases in emerging states. "There is always a terrible socio-economic impact of diseases on countries, therefore, we must...

Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Health for Jamaica, Dr. Sheila Campbell-Forrester, has said that with chronic non-communicable diseases being major contributors to morbidity and mortality in Jamaica, the incidence of renal disease must be reduced at all cost. "With complications from hypertension and diabetes leading to end stage chronic renal failure , we must begin to consider how best to...

Minister of Water and Housing, Dr. Horace Chang, has said that the lifestyle disease, hypertension, is one of the major chronic disorders affecting persons in the country, which eventually leads to lower productivity at the workplace. "This is really one of our chronic problems, and as a country, we have to find a way, not only to treat it, but...

Minister of Health Hon. Rudyard Spencer, says a number of measures will be taken to strengthen the capacity of the National Blood Transfusion Service. Speaking at his monthly press briefing on Thursday (January 21), Minister Spencer said the finding of the audit report ordered by Permanent Secretary, Dr. Jean Dixon in November last year pointed to weak inventory systems and...

Director of Emergency, Disaster Management and Special Services in the Ministry of Health (MOH), Dr. Marion Bullock DuCasse (2nd left) examines nutritional powder donated by ViSalus, while ViSalus Ambassador, Gaudia Chevannes Aquart (2nd right) provides information on its use. Looking on is head of the second MOH team of health and medical professionals to Haiti, Dr. Mark Minott (left) and...