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Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles, has said that the Government is currently reviewing the Maternity Leave Act, to support the promotion of gender equality in the workforce. Speaking recently at the launch of the International Labour Organization (ILO) /United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report on work and family, at the University of the West Indies (UWI),...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is announcing that an agreement has been reached with the Nurses' Association of Jamaica, Ministry of Finance and the Public Service and the Ministry of Health today at a meeting held at the Ministry, North Street, Kingston. The new Heads of Agreement for the period April 2008 - March 2010 will be signed...

A gift of 6,825 blood bags and 60 suction machines, valued at US$61,624, or close to J$5.5million, were handed over to Minister of Health, Hon. Rudyard Spencer today (November 27). The machines and blood bags were presented to the Minister by Food for the Poor, at an official handing over ceremony at the relief agency's Ellerslie Pen office, Spanish Town,...

Minister of Health, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, has made another appeal for Jamaicans, who are healthy and able, to donate blood at any collection centre, or the Blood Bank in Kingston. The Minister's plea comes as the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) is now in a better position to accommodate increased blood collections, with Food for the Poor's donation of 6,825...

The National Health Fund (NHF) has paid out approximately $1.95 billion for just over two million claims received from individual benefit cardholders during the period October 1, 2008 to October 31, 2009, representing a $43 million increase over the previous year. Chief Executive Officer, Hugh Lawson, speaking at the NHF's Provider Awards Ceremony at the Terra Nova Hotel on Monday...

A new Cardiology Unit, valued at $10 million, was officially opened at the Cornwall Regional Hospital, in Montego Bay, St. James, on November 24. The unit, which houses an echocardiogram machine and related equipment, was established by the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund. This is a major boost for the hospital, as it moves to enhance specialised...

About 30 women from communities in South Manchester have been screened for breast cancer, and have also received information on the disease. The screening and awareness session was organised by Jamalco, in collaboration with the Jamaica Cancer Society, the National Health Fund (NHF) and Jamalco's rehabilitation contractor, RECO Limited, and was held at the Winston Jones High School. Each person...

Persons living with HIV and AIDS can access financing for income generating activities or for training and education through a special fund. The announcement was made in a message delivered by Head of the Ministry of Health's HIV/STI Programme, Dr. Kevin Harvey on behalf of Minister of Health, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, at the launch of World AIDS Day and the...

The National HIV/STI Programme has unveiled its new HIV anti-stigma campaign, with two HIV-positive Jamaicans coming forward to reveal their HIV status and to participate in the national effort, which aims to end the discrimination associated with the disease. Jason Richards and Mrs. Rosemarie Stone were today (November 24) presented as the new faces of the 'Yes You Can' anti-stigma...

A new health centre is to be constructed in Christiana, Manchester, at a cost of approximately $32 million. Construction is being facilitated by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) and the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund, with the JSIF providing some $22 million and the CHASE Fund, $10 million. The new centre will be built on the...

With approximately 150,000 persons in Jamaica reportedly living with diabetes, and projections for further increase in incidence of the disease, Medical Officer of Health (MOH) for St. Catherine, Dr. Sandra Knight, is imploring Jamaicans to pursue healthy lifestyle changes to prevent or, effectively, manage the disease. Speaking at a JIS Think Tank on Thursday (November 5), to highlight the activities...

The Ministry of Health's tuberculosis (TB) strategic plan is in an advanced stage of development and is expected to be completed by December 2009. Director of Health Promotion and Protection in the Ministry, Dr. Eva Lewis Fuller, explained that the plan "seeks to give focus on the situation regarding TB in Jamaica and it is extended to the various sectors...