Approximately 150 men employed to the Pan Caribbean Sugar Factory in Frome, Westmoreland, participated in a free health fair hosted by the Westmoreland Health Department on Tuesday, September 27. The event, which was held on the grounds of the sugar factory, was hosted in collaboration with the National Health Fund (NHF), with support from the Diabetes Association of Jamaica, the...

Health facilities in St. Catherine are to be expanded and rehabilitated, says Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton. “If there was neglect in the past, we’re changing the sails. This parish requires high levels of health infrastructure… the population require it,” he states. The Minister was speaking during an Open House & Exhibition ceremony for the...

Children born or cared for at the Mandeville Regional Hospital in Manchester are in for the best developmental support, with the institution now internationally certified as a Baby Friendly Hospital (BFH). To be baby friendly means giving every baby the best start in life by creating a healthcare environment that supports breastfeeding. This is in keeping with the global campaign...

Driver at the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) Patrick Foster, recalls that his entry into the Ministry could not have prepared him for what he was to encounter on the front line as the country grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic. He was, however, cognisant of the important role he played and in which he diligently served in an area...

Like many persons in critical sectors, Public Health Inspector, Varon England, had her own fear of the coronavirus (COVID-19), but her commitment to public safety vanquished all misgivings, and she stood with those who battled the emergency. Public Health Inspectors are responsible for the inspection of facilities such as restaurants, day cares and pools to prevent transmission of germs, and...

Despite the glaring danger of interacting with infected persons during the height of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Substance Abuse Officer with the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA), Marisha Burgess, ensured that her clients got uninterrupted services. Attached to the Eastern Region of the NCDA, Miss Burgess is tasked with providing constant counselling to drug addicts and sourcing food for...

President of the Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ) Patsy Edwards-Henry got her proverbial baptism by fire when COVID-19 first reached the island in March 2020, by virtue of her association with Patient Zero. The Registered Nurse, Registered Midwife and Departmental Nurse Manager at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital (VJH) served on the front lines with her staff in dealing with the...

When Mitzie Pickersgill received what many before her had considered a terrifying request from the Ministry of Health, she accepted the challenge without hesitation. The call came from the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA). It was an invitation to the trained Practical Nurse to join the response team in Bull Bay, St Andrew, following the discovery of the first...

Growing up, Kamol Williams wanted nothing more than to enhance his country’s healthcare system while simultaneously pursuing a career in technology. Uncertain of how he could merge his two passions, Mr. Williams was compelled to put aside his aspirations of venturing into the healthcare system. In 2017, he graduated from the University of the West Indies with a bachelor’s degree...