As consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital, in Westmoreland, Dr. Darren Fray brings more than medical expertise to the operating theatre; he is passionate about healing, patient care, honesty, empathy and service. "I grew up in Montego Bay [St. James]. I went to Cornwall College, then Montego Bay Community College for CAPE. I did my medical training...

Senior Public Health Nurse for Westmoreland, Carol Beharie, has stood as a pillar of strength, compassion and commitment within Jamaica’s public health system. Ms. Beharie’s journey is a profound testament to service, leadership and a deep love for people. Her work in the parish spans clinic duties, school visits, vaccination campaigns, health promotion, and community outreach. Whether she is mentoring...

When results of the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations were released on June 20, there were a range of emotions, including screams of joy from some students and quiet sobs from others. Some students jumped with excitement, while others sat in stunned silence, grappling with the painful reality that they did not pass for their first-choice high school. Regional Clinical...

Senior Clinical Psychologist at the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), Georgia Rose, is encouraging parents to be aware of the early signs of autism in their children and to seek prompt intervention. In an interview with JIS News, Ms. Rose explains that autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects how the brain functions. “An individual who meets the criteria for...

Final-year engineering student at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Ricardo Harrison, has developed a model to detect diabetic retinopathy (DR), using artificial intelligence (AI)-powered computer vision. In an interview with JIS News, he said the solution is intended for low-resource hospitals, as the typical diagnostic machines are large, expensive and unportable. He further shared that DR is a...

Persons, who are in the business of preparing and/or serving food and drink to be consumed by the public are being reminded that they are required to have a valid food handler’s permit (FHP). This is the case even for those who are not directly handling food but are employed at a food-handling establishment and may enter food preparation/processing areas...

Within the halls of the Bustamante Hospital for Children in Kingston, tiny hearts, once on the brink of failure, are beating with new life. From lips once blue to cheeks now flushed with life, from families overwhelmed with fear to children filled with laughter, quiet miracles are unfolding each day. At the centre of this remarkable transformation is Chain of...

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has hailed the Issa Trust Foundation for two decades of dedicated service to Jamaica’s children through its annual fundraising concert. Over the years, the proceeds from the events have been instrumental in supporting health services and programmes to benefit children. These include the paediatric ward at St. Ann’s Bay Hospital and the...

The book, ‘Wild Flavours’, written by Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, has been described as a “unique publication, and a real-life insider experience of managing the COVID-19 pandemic in Jamaica”. Professor of Public Health and Ageing, University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, Dr. Denise Eldemire-Shearer, gave the description at the recent launch, held at...