More

Residents of the fishing community along Port Henderson Road in Portmore, popularly called 'Back Road', recently benefited from a family life education seminar, where they were sensitised about the Child Care and Protection Act and how to prevent the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. The seminar, held at the Port Henderson Church of God, was organised by...

A healthy lifestyles programme, titled 'Live Life', which seeks to promote the increased intake of fruits and vegetables in one's diet, was officially launched today (February 18), at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus. The programme, designed by the Master of Public Health (MPH) Class of 2009, will last for three months, and is an adaptation of...

Chief Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health and Environment, Dr. Sheila Campbell-Forrester, has said that the Schools Blood Drive Competition will be a critical component in promoting the habit of voluntary blood donation among persons aged 17 years and older. "In targeting young people, we are trying to have a consistent source of blood donors," Dr. Campbell-Forrester said during...

The National Chest Hospital in Kingston has benefitted from some $60 million in equipment and renovations, said Health and Environment Minister, Rudyard Spencer. Speaking at a media briefing at the Ministry's downtown Kingston offices on February 13, Mr. Spencer informed that the improvements to the building and the procurement of equipment were consequent on recommendations made by a special committee,...

Minister of Health and Environment, Rudyard Spencer, has announced the suspension of the Geographical Private Practice Privilege(GPPP) for consultant medical doctors at the National Chest Hospital, in Kingston. This provision allows consultant medical practitioners, engaged in both public and private practice, to utilize the hospital's equipment to administer health care to their private patients, for fees separate from those charged...

A Schools Blood Drive Competition was officially launched yesterday (Feb. 11) at the Ministry of Health and Environment, King Street, downtown Kingston. The competition is aimed at the development of a culture of voluntary blood donation, by promoting the practice among young people, and is open to all schools in Jamaica. The theme is, 'Students Save Lives Too...As Voluntary Blood...

Members of the Health Promotion Team, in the Guidance and Counselling Unit, Ministry of Education, will host their second National Sexuality and Reproductive Health Expo, at the National Arena, in Kingston, on Wednesday, February 11. "The Ministry has once again partnered with some of our non- governmental organizations (NGOs), to host what we call a National Sexuality and Reproductive Health...

The Registrar General's Department (RGD), received 500 applications in its overseas outreach initiatives in the United Kingdom, United States (Florida),Canada and Cuba in 2008. Of the total, about 424, or 85 per cent, have already been dealt with, while other applications are still outstanding for various reasons. Form searches are continuing for 10 applicants, who did not give sufficient information...

Seventy-three grade six students from two primary schools in Portland's Rio Grande Valley, have been presented with health care packages to assist with their nutritional preparation for the GSAT examination. The packages, which contained Habberange Omega 3 capsules and Minadex multi-vitamin syrup, were presented to the students during a ceremony held at the Port Antonio Regional Office of the Ministry...

Jamaicans are being implored to protect the island's wetlands, as the destruction of these ecological systems will adversely affect marine life, and ultimately, the human population. The urging came from Education Outreach Officer with the Natural History Museum of Jamaica, Dr. Shereene James-Williamson, as she addressed a function held yesterday (Feb. 2) at the Kellits Branch Library in Clarendon to...

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Registrar General's Department (RGD), Dr. Patricia Holness, has called for innovation in the public sector, as a way of ensuring accountability. "It is very important that the Public Sector innovates. If we don't innovate, we die. We need to be accountable and in order to be accountable, we need to be innovative," she said....

The Thai Government has donated US$10,000 to the Mustard Seed Communities, which will go towards the welfare of children with HIV/AIDS, and repair buildings at Sophie's Place, which were damaged by Tropical Storm Gustav last year. Thailand's Ambassador to Jamaica, Snanchart Devahastin, yesterday (Jan. 29) handed over the cheque to Father Gregory Ramkissoon, Executive Director and founder of the Mustard...