Consultations on Tobacco Control Regulations End

The Ministry of Health has received some 20 submissions from a wide range of interest groups, as the public consultations on the tobacco control regulations closed on Tuesday, August 13.

This was disclosed by Portfolio Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, at the first biennial nursing and midwifery research conference, which began on August 15, at the Knutsford Court Hotel, in Kingston.

“Although we say over 20 (submissions received), there are a number of letters and emails that have come to me…commendations, persons recognising that to do this requires bold action,” Dr. Ferguson said.

The Minister said he is pleased at the level of interest shown by the public on the tobacco regulations.

Persons were encouraged to call the Tobacco Control Task Force and Tobacco Control Command Centre with their comments.

The unit was recently set up by the Health Minister to monitor public sentiment and to allow members of the public to obtain information and clarification on matters concerning the Tobacco Regulations and the effects of tobacco exposure on health.

“The Tobacco Control Task Force is in the process of tabulating all the submissions and even as I speak, the review process has already started. Valuable information gleaned will inform our forward thinking,” Dr. Ferguson said.

Jamaica banned smoking in public places on Monday, July 15, as the Public Health (Tobacco Control) Regulations 2013 took effect.  The Minister executed the Regulations under Sections 14 and 15 of the Public Health Act, and with the approval of Cabinet.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ferguson stated that the Government is committed to meeting the health care needs of the population and will ensure that the nursing and midwifery workforce are allowed to carry out their duties, both in education and practice, in an amicable way.

“Let me hope for you all the best in this conference and I look forward to receiving the outcomes,” Dr. Ferguson said.

The first biennial nursing and midwifery research conference is being held under the theme: ‘Utilizing research for best practices in Nursing and Midwifery’. It is being held from August 15-13, 2013 at the Knutsford Court Hotel and is hosted by the Caribbean School of Nursing, University of Technology, Jamaica.

The conference aims to provide a forum for scholars and emerging scholars to disseminate their research findings; develop partnerships among academic and professional groups for enrichment and exposure to global perspectives of nurses and midwives; enable nurses and midwives to translate research evidence into practice; and promote opportunities for nursing, midwifery and other health sciences students to grow and develop as beginning scholars.