As the Ministry of Health and Wellness ramps up measures to prevent and manage non-communicable diseases (NCDs), psychiatrist at the Bellevue Hospital, Dr. Brian Kazaara, is highlighting the connection between chronic diseases and the neurodegenerative condition dementia. He tells JIS News that while there has been an increase in cases of dementia locally due to the aging population, certain medical...

Registered pharmacist, Joel Kenyon, is passionate about the profession. The manager of Neighbour Care Pharmacy in St. Ann's Bay, St. Ann, sees his job as more than just dispensing medications; it is going above and beyond to meet the healthcare needs of his patients. It also involves sourcing hard-to-find drugs, arranging deliveries, offering counselling, and guiding patients through assistance programmes....

The Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) is intensifying its effort to eliminate hepatitis infections, particularly Hepatitis B, as part of the global agenda to end specific communicable diseases by 2030. Acting Director of the Family Health Unit in the MOHW, Dr. Julia Rowe-Porter, tells JIS News about the urgency of addressing the threat posed by the highly contagious virus....

Emancipation Park in St. Andrew was transformed into a vibrant space in celebration of the country’s older citizens, at the 4th annual Ageing Fair on Thursday (Sept. 11).  The event, hosted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the National Council on Senior Citizens (NCSC), was  part of activities in observance of Senior Citizens’ Month,  which is being...

Medical student Yanique Jackson was struggling financially, particularly with tuition fees, and there were many times “when I felt overwhelmed”, then came the Dr. Barry Wint Memorial Scholarship Programme, which “gave me hope”. “It gave me encouragement and reassurance that I was not alone. It reminded me that there are people and institutions who believed in me, who wanted me...

The Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund utilises comprehensive and targeted investments in Health and Wellness to provide support for the health sector. In a recent interview with JIS News, Chief Executive Officer of the CHASE Fund, W. Billy Heaven, explains that CHASE’s health-sector strategy is rooted in four core areas. These include equipping and upgrading health facilities...

Residents of Ocho Rios and surrounding communities in St. Ann are receiving free dental services under the Great Shape! Inc. 1000 Smiles project. The initiative involves collaboration with Sandals Foundation and the North East Regional Health Authority (NERHA). The dental team, comprised of local and international dentists and volunteers, is undertaking its annual community outreach in the resort town over...

Johnell Whyte Roberts’ decision to become a medical imaging practitioner was driven by experience that hit close to home.  In an interview with JIS News, she shares that seeing her father navigate health challenges and having to undergo several scans to detect the source of his illness, was the genesis of her fascination with medical imaging.   “He did ultrasound, interventional...