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Medical Officer of Health for Portland, Dr. Sharon Lewis, presents the January Health Report on the parish’s health status, during the Portland Municipal Corporation — Medical Officer of Health for Portland, Dr. Sharon Lewis, presents the January Health Report on the parish’s health status, during the Portland Municipal Corporation's monthly meeting on February 12.

Portland Health Department Rolls Out Blood Pressure Screenings for Heart Month

The Portland Health Department has commenced a series of blood pressure screenings across the parish in observance of Heart Month as part of efforts to promote cardiovascular health among residents. The initiative, undertaken in collaboration with the National Health Fund...

Medical Officer of Health for Westmoreland, Dr. Marcia Graham.

Westmoreland Health Officials Target 2,000 Hypertension Screenings During Heart Month

Health and Wellness Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, addresses a media briefing held at the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA) Technical Office at the Freeport Business Centre in St. James on February 7.

Health Ministry Reviewing Structural Integrity of 105 Health Centres Impacted by Hurricane Melissa

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon Christopher Tufton (second left), and United Kingdom Development Representative for Jamaica and Caribbean Regional Counsellor, Andrew Bowden (left), unveil the LIV GUD mural at Haile Selassie High School in Kingston on Friday (February 13), during the launch of the Wellness Express – Adolescent Mental Health Mobile Service. Observing the proceedings were State Minister, National Security and Peace, Hon. Juliet Cuthbert Flynn (second right), and Member of Parliament, South West St. Andrew, Dr. Angela Brown Burke.

Wellness Express Mobile Service Launched at Haile Selassie High School

Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, inspects the guard of honour during the 2026/2027 ceremonial opening of Parliament at Gordon House on Thursday (February 12).

226 Primary-care Facilities to Be Rehabilitated

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Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS), Executive Director, Roshane Reid-Koomson

2 months ago Health & Wellness

Jamaica Cancer Society Highlights Importance of Cancer Screenings

Jamaicans are being urged to prioritise routine cancer screenings as part of efforts to reduce late-stage diagnosis and improve survival rates. Executive Director at the Jamaica Cancer Society, Roshane Reid-Koomson stressed that delayed screening often means delayed diagnosis. “That can be the big difference between a cancer that is treatable and one that is life-threatening,” she told JIS News. Mrs....

Minister of State, Ministry of Health and Wellness, Hon. Krystal Lee (second right), applauds the unveiling of a new wellness bench at the Mandeville Regional Hospital in Manchester. Removing the cover to reveal the seating are (from left) Chief Executive Officer, Mandeville Regional Hospital, Alwyn Miller; Regional Technical Director, Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA), Dr. Vitillius Holder; and Chairman-designate, SRHA, Michael Stern. The wellness bench, which will provide relaxation and rejuvenation for persons who visit the hospital, forms part of the Ministry

2 months ago Health & Wellness

PHOTO: Mandeville Regional Hospital Gets Wellness Bench

Minister of State, Ministry of Health and Wellness, Hon. Krystal Lee (second right), applauds the unveiling of a new wellness bench at the Mandeville Regional Hospital in Manchester. Removing the cover to reveal the seating are (from left) Chief Executive Officer, Mandeville Regional Hospital, Alwyn Miller; Regional Technical Director, Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA), Dr. Vitillius Holder; and Chairman-designate, SRHA,...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Hon. Krystal Lee (right) presents a copy of the National Strategic Plan for HIV 2023-2030, to Country Representative for the Pan-American Organization (PAHO), Ian Stein (centre), while Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Errol Greene, shares the moment. Occasion was the launch of the Plan on Monday (February 9), at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

2 months ago Health & Wellness

Gov’t Targets 40 Per Cent Reduction In New HIV Infections By 2030

The Ministry of Health and Wellness has launched Jamaica’s National Strategic Plan for HIV (2023-2030), which is aimed at reducing new HIV infections by 40 per cent by 2030. The plan marks a decisive step in strengthening the response to HIV. “[It] has an objective of ensuring that every person can be healthy, productive and safe in a Jamaica free...

Senior Clinical Psychologist at the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), Georgia Rose.

2 months ago Health & Wellness

Senior Clinical Psychologist Encourages Healthy Co-Parenting

Senior Clinical Psychologist at the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), Georgia Rose, is encouraging separated parents to prioritise the well-being of their children by supporting healthy relationships with both parents, even when personal conflicts remain unresolved. Speaking in an interview with JIS News, Ms. Rose explained that separation can be emotionally complex and often requires parents to manage difficult feelings,...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Hon. Krystal Lee (left), commends Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA) staff, who designed the new Computerised Maintenance Management System, following the launch at the SRHA offices in Mandeville, Manchester, on Thursday (February 5). They are (from second left) Rohan Smith, Toni-Ann Rodney, Ryan Dixon, Saede Nisbeth, O

2 months ago Health & Wellness

SRHA Launches Homegrown Maintenance Management System

The Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA) has developed and implemented its own Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) to more effectively manage the maintenance of infrastructure and equipment at hospitals and health centres across the region. The digital platform, built by staff members Rohan Smith, Toni-Ann Rodney, Ryan Dixon, Saede Nisbeth, O'Nelia Caballero and Jozané Bryan, overhauls traditional maintenance approaches, improving...

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Hon. Christopher Tufton (second left), is joined by (l-r) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Health Fund (NHF), Everton Anderson; CEO and Founder of Judah 1, Everett Aaron; and Chief Operating Officer at Kennedy International Logistics and Services, Christie Hutcherson, in displaying images of the medical dome, which will be erected on the grounds of the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) in Montego Bay, St. James, The occasion was a media briefing held at the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA) Technical Office at the Freeport Business Centre in St. James on Saturday (Feb. 7).

2 months ago Health & Wellness

Cornwall Hospital Grounds Being Prepared for Installation of Medical Dome

Work is underway to prepare the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) grounds for the installation of a state-of-the-art medical dome, which will accommodate up to 100 beds. The 10,000 square-foot facility, engineered to withstand a category 4 hurricane, is being donated through partnership involving the Jamaican Government and international non-governmental organisations Judah 1 and Kennedy Quick Reaction Fund. The setting up...

The Percy Junor Hospital in Manchester has been accredited as a baby-friendly institution, becoming the 12th local public hospital to be certified under the global initiative.
A programme of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) recognises health facilities that provide optimal care for mothers and newborns and actively support breastfeeding.
The initiative promotes practices that have proven to improve infant survival and long-term health outcomes. These include early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and continued breastfeeding with appropriate complementary foods for up to two years or beyond.
Speaking at the accreditation ceremony held at the hospital in Spalding on Thursday (Feb. 5), Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, congratulated the management and staff of Percy Junor Hospital on the achievement, noting that it reflects a commitment to quality standards in infant and maternal care.
He noted that the accreditation aligns with the Ministry’s broader strategy to reduce infant mortality, improve maternal health outcomes, and strengthen quality standards across the public health system.
Dr. Tufton said that Percy Junor’s accreditation takes the country just over the half mark in terms of the number of hospitals in the country that are baby-friendly certified.
He noted that when he took office in 2016, only one of the island’s 23 hospitals had baby-friendly designation.
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Percy Junor Hospital...2
“Today, there are 12 hospitals that have baby-friendly designation. That’s a big deal! It means that we are improving standards...it means that the team in the respective institutions are doing the work, have been provided with the support, whether through our external agencies, our region, or the Ministry,” Dr. Tufton said.
“Today, I challenge the remaining 11 institutions, over the next three to five years – and I hope it’s more three than five – to make us complete ... by doing the necessary work to achieve baby-friendly status,” he urged.
“If 12 hospitals can achieve baby-friendly status, 23 can achieve baby-friendly status. If the people in 12 can do the work to get it done, the remaining 11 can do the work to get it done,” he expressed.
Noting that Percy Junor Hospital has seen a 64 per cent decline in births from 201 in 2024 to 71 in 2025, Dr. Tufton urged the community health aides to go into the communities to engage with families and promote responsible child-rearing.
“Our job is to promote responsible parenting, not just to have children for children’s sake… It raises a fundamental issue that we have to manage, as part of public health… that health is about community. That’s why health centres and community hospitals are so important, because you are the heartbeat, so to speak, of your community. And, you’re going to be called on more to provide guidance to those who need guidance,” he said.
“We represent the credibility factor of most communities. We must leverage the credibility that we represent, by spending more time in the community, to talk to people, to encourage families, to encourage responsible parenting and to say to people, ‘It’s okay to have children, and there is a way to be responsible as a parent, and to grow your child to a point where you can achieve the bragging rights that you deserve,” he said.

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For her part, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Percy Junor Hospital, Faith Sterling, expressed pleasure at the hospital’s baby-friendly accreditation.
“I am absolutely elated. This does not only mean that our standards have been raised. It means a positive paradigm shift in the right direction in becoming a first-class hospital in not only Jamaica, but the Caribbean,” she told JIS News.

2 months ago Health & Wellness

Percy Junor Hospital Becomes 12th Baby-Friendly Certified Institution

The Percy Junor Hospital in Manchester has been accredited as a baby-friendly institution, becoming the 12th local public hospital to be certified under the global initiative. A programme of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) recognises health facilities that provide optimal care for mothers and newborns and actively support...