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Some 20 deaf peer educators in Manchester have been armed with the skills and techniques to help to reduce the vulnerability of the deaf community to HIV/AIDS. At a five-day workshop, held at the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf in Knockpatrick, the educators learnt counselling techniques and how to use cultural tools, such as dance, in the education process....

The St. Andrew "A" group of nurses of the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) will, on Thursday (July 23), stage a Nurses' Expo and Exhibition, in the main car park of the hospital. The event, which will get underway at 10:30 a.m., will highlight the important role played by nurses in providing children and families with the highest...

Custos of Manchester, Hon. Dr. Gilbert Allen, says that Mandeville is in the process of becoming a centre for quality health care in Jamaica. He made the remark while addressing the official opening of Island Radiology, Caledonia Road, Mandeville, Manchester on Wednesday (July 15). "This is a continuing process that will, in time, make Mandeville a prime centre for the...

Health Minister, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, has announced planned infrastructural expansions at several public health facilities, islandwide. In his contribution to the 2009/10 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, Gordon House on Wednesday (July 15), Mr. Spencer said some $150 million will be spent to commence work on a block at the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) in Montego Bay. The...

Director of Emergency Disaster Management and Special Services in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Marion Bullock DuCasse, is dispelling claims that the Ministry is withholding information about the Influenza A (H1 NI) virus in the island. She said that as soon as the reports of infections were confirmed, the information was made available to the public. "As soon as we...

The Government could spend upwards of $2 billion on a partnership initiative for the dispensing of pharmaceuticals within the public health sector over the next three years, Health Minister, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, has announced. In his contribution to the 2009/10 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday (July 15), Mr. Spencer said that a submission, proposing a partnership...

Jamaicans are being encouraged to make greater use of their local health centres to reduce the burden on hospitals. There has been a significant increase in the number of Jamaicans accessing treatment at Accident and Emergency (A and E) Departments since the abolition of user fees at public health facilities on April 1, 2008. Minister of Health, Hon. Rudyard Spencer,...

The Ministry of Health has made a submission to Cabinet for more supportive equipment and supplies, to enable health facilities to continue to effectively care for and treat patients with the Influenza A (H1N1) virus. Health and Environment Minister, Rudyard Spencer, made the disclosure at his post-Sectoral press briefing held today (July 16) at his office in Kingston. The equipment...

Several aspects of the country's health sector will be modernised, under the Republic of Korea-aided health information system initiative, which was announced by Health Minister, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, yesterday (July 15). Elaborating on the initiative at his post-Sectoral Debate press briefing, at the Ministry, in Kingston, today (July 16), the Minister pointed out that the US$1.5 million support includes the...

A Centre of Excellence for Health Workforce Planning is to be opened in Jamaica by February 2010, Health Minister, the Hon. Rudyard Spencer, has announced. The centre, he said, forms part of efforts to modernise Jamaica's public health sector, by improving the human, physical, and technological infrastructures. Speaking during the 2009/10 Sectoral Debate in Gordon House on Wednesday (July 15),...

Enrollment in the National Health Fund (NHF) for 2008/09 increased by 16 per cent over the previous year, with the number of beneficiaries currently at 404,615, Health Minister, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, has announced. Making his presentation in the 2009/10 Sectoral Debate in the House, on July 15, Mr. Spencer said the number of new beneficiaries securing NHF cards was 35,947,...

The Ministry of Health is considering a proposal from the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) to abolish user fees for children, up to the age of 12 years, who use that institution. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Ruddy Spencer, said this has become necessary, as a study conducted after the abolition of user fees in public hospitals on April 1,...