The National Health Fund (NHF) will be increasing its subsidy on drugs, respiratory devices and diabetic supplies for children from zero to 18 years by 100 per cent effective September 1. The entity will be spending approximately $70 million per year to facilitate the increase. Speaking at a JIS Think Tank on Wednesday (August 31), NHF Chairman, Christopher Zacca, said...

Employers and workers are being encouraged to make use of the Jamaican Foundation for Lifelong Learning (JFLL) workplace intervention programme. Special Projects Manager, Workplace and Communities, JFLL, Janet Allen, told JIS News that the call comes as a result of statistics from the Jamaica Vision 2030 Training Sector Plan which indicate that 70 per cent of the Jamaican workforce is...

The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) is encouraging greater utilization of its services by the public to compare prices and report concerns arising. Research Officer, Elroy Galbraith, says the agency has several tools and channels for the timely provision of information to consumers. These, he said, include the ‘Price Enquiry Tool’ that enables persons to access and compare the prices for...

The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) is urging parents to prioritise when purchasing textbooks for the new school year. Speaking at a JIS ‘Think Tank’ on August 24, Chief Executive Officer, Dolsie Allen, said parents should consult the schools to find out the recommended books for the first half of the school year before buying. “This will help you to budget...

The Jamaica Foundation for Lifelong Learning (JFLL) will host a graduation ceremony in October for the first cohort of students who were successful in five Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) subjects. This was achieved under its two-year-old High School Diploma Equivalency (HSDE) programme. Addressing a recent JIS ‘Think Tank’, Deputy Executive Director and Director of Education Services, Dr. Grace-Camille Munroe,...

The Jamaican Foundation for Lifelong Learning (JFLL) is reporting that the country’s adult literacy rate is now at 87 per cent. Deputy Executive Director and Director of Education Services at the JFLL, Dr. Grace-Camille Munroe, said this is very positive, as the island is coming from a rate of 50 per cent in 1974. She noted, however, that Jamaica is...

JP Tropical Foods Limited, manufacturers of the popular St. Mary’s Banana Chips, is exploring the use of drones to combat praedial larceny. Addressing a recent JIS Think Tank, General Manager for the company’s Commercial Division, Neil Crum-Ewing, informed that the entity loses some $40 million in revenue per year due to farm theft. He said the objective is to introduce...