Six months after Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica, the Jamaica Red Cross Society (JRCS) continues to assist in charting a resilient recovery pathway for residents in western Jamaica. While it has been active on the ground since the passage of the hurricane, the JRCS officially launched its comprehensive Hurricane Melissa Recovery Strategy at its Hurricane Melissa Recovery Conference, held...

A new study on stroke risk among Jamaican children living with sickle cell anaemia is offering hope for improved clinical outcomes. The study, done by Paediatrician Dr. Angela Rankine-Mullings, provides an expanded pathway for early detection and prevention, which could reshape how stroke risk is identified among the vulnerable population. It introduces arterial stiffness measurement as a promising complementary tool...

Alison McFarland of Moy Hall, St. James, was concerned when her son’s teachers indicated to her that he was struggling with his lessons and was not staying in class. “He’s always on the outside; he’s not writing,” she told JIS News. “When I spoke to him, he said that the teacher is writing too fast for him,” she pointed out....

Health officials are encouraging Jamaicans to be on the lookout for signs of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD), as the country is in one of the periods when the illness usually occurs. Cases of HFMD are generally reported between March and June and September and December. Parish Health Promotion and Education Officer at the Westmoreland Health Department, Gerald Miller,...

The life and legacy of national icon Dr. Mavis Gilmour-Petersen stand as a powerful testament to purpose, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to service. Her journey, from the quiet rural communities of St. Elizabeth to the forefront of Jamaica’s medical and political leadership, is not merely a story of personal success but one of nation-building, driven by an enduring desire...

LASCO/NAJ Nurse of the Year 2025, Fione Collins, through her ‘Inspiring Women Igniting Newness (IWIN) Project’ is empowering women to rise above their personal and economic challenges and transform their lives. The initiative, which offers financial assistance to women and girls ages 15 and older, is making a meaningful impact, one life at a time. At its core, IWIN is...

For many medical students, the image of a doctor’s work begins and ends within hospital walls, wards, clinics, emergency rooms, and operating theatres. Across Jamaica, however, the University of the West Indies (UWI) Faculty of Medicine’s Community Health Junior Clerkship is challenging that perception by placing doctors-in-training at the centre of the systems that safeguard the nation’s health, long before...

Twin sisters, Dr. Tamara Henry-Gilpin and Dr. Tamika Henry are quietly transforming public healthcare, working in parallel roles that mirror not just their training but their shared sense of purpose. Dr. Tamara Henry-Gilpin serves as Medical Officer of Health (MOH) for St. Mary, where she is responsible for the technical services in primary care for the parish. In a neighbouring...