Health researcher Selena Lewis has highlighted the need for targeted interventions to keep HIV patients connected to life-saving treatment. The recommendation is in light of her study, which shows that individuals, aged 20 to 49 years, particularly men, are at greater risk of dropping out of care. The findings were presented at the recent 16th Annual National Research Conference held...

Research has found a strong correlation between painful period and high rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts among women living with sickle cell disease. The study, conducted by Research Fellow at the Sickle Cell Unit, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, University of the West Indies (UWI), Dr. Zachary Ramsay, was presented at the 16th Annual National Research Conference held...

Routine heart scans, comprehensive kidney testing, and expanded access to specialised diagnostic investigations could significantly improve outcomes for Jamaican children living with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), according to paediatric specialist, Dr. Sanjae-Ann Dean. Drawing on findings from one of the first documented studies of paediatric lupus in Jamaica, and the English-speaking Caribbean, Dr. Dean is urging healthcare providers to recognise...

State Minister in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Hon. Krystal Lee, has hailed Teen Hub St. Thomas as a safe space for young people in the parish. Established in 2023, the facility is the second of its kind in Jamaica and is based at the Morant Bay Bus Park, offering a wide range of social, educational, and health services...

The Government is moving beyond make-do repairs at hurricane-affected health centres towards a resilient, long-term network that can withstand future storms. This, according to health officials, is part of a broader assessment of the island’s health networks and signals a transition from emergency repairs to a durable, disaster-ready plan. Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, underscored...

The Ministry of Health and Wellness, through the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA), is intensifying its multi-pronged response to substance use disorders. The programme is focused on prevention, expanded treatment access, early intervention, and improved surveillance systems, as new national data highlights evolving patterns of drug use across the island. Director of Treatment Services at the NCDA, Dr. Kristen...

A study on ‘The Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes in Jamaica’ is shedding light on how modern advertising practices are shaping infant feeding decisions and challenging public health priorities. Director of the Nutrition Unit in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Marchelle Turner-Miller, said that the 2025 national survey commissioned by the Ministry, examined how breast milk substitutes are promoted...

What a person eats can impact the management of glaucoma, potentially influencing the amount of medication needed to control the debilitating eye condition. Health researcher, Genesis Edokpa, makes the link between the foods people consume and how they influence the severity of glaucoma, in his paper, titled ‘Association Between Diet and Number of Prescribed Medications in Glaucoma Patients’. It was...