Telemedicine is the delivery of healthcare services and the exchange of medical information remotely using electronic communication technologies, such as video conferencing and telephone calling. In 2018 the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) launched a telemedicine pilot project for the benefit of persons in remote areas and those with mobility issues. The project, which is ongoing, aims to allow such persons...

The official start of the 2020/2021 academic year will be October 05, 2020. It will be unlike any other as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. In order to adhere to the guidelines put in place by the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) to stem the spread of the virus, several changes to the operation of schools have been implemented for...

The United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-HABITAT) shows that as of May 2020, 1.8 billion people are living in a state of homelessness or inadequate shelter globally. In Jamaica, there are approximately 14,000 people registered as poor. The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has implemented the Indigent Housing Programme to provide housing solutions for the poor. This initiative...

The hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 annually and is forecasted to be ‘above normal’ in 2020. The forecasts show 13-19 named storms, with six to ten being hurricanes and three to six being major hurricanes. The last major hurricane in Jamaica – Hurricane Sandy – occurred on October 24, 2012 and cost the Government of Jamaica...

The National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), an entity under the Ministry of Health & Wellness (MOHW), is responsible for the safe collection and storage of blood for transfusion purposes. The NBTS aims to supply at least 75% of all blood that is requested. In April 2020, it supplied 55% of all blood requests made by hospitals, with people aged 20...

The Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) is finalising its Living with COVID-19 Plan to help Jamaicans adjust to ‘the new normal’. The Plan is based on three strategic goals. These are: • Protecting Jamaicans from harmful health outcomes. • Encouraging productive engagement of individuals within the society. • Creating an environment where citizens can participate in meaningful social activities...

The Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exam (CAPE) examinations will begin July 13 and end August 04, 2020. Some 58,720 students have registered to sit the CSEC examinations and 16,184 are registered to sit the CAPE. Results are expected to be released by the third week of September 2020. The Ministry of Education, Youth and...