University Hospital of the West Indies

Jamaica Update, August 3, 2021: Andrew pleas for peace, Elaine flies down the track, and everyone must get vaxxed

August 4, 2021

These are tense times. While most of Jamaica has been glued to the Olympics track events – obviously, our forte – the number of COVID-19 cases has been accumulating rapidly. New cases are now in three digits daily, and so are hospital admissions. It is alarming, but what’s happening in Tokyo has provided a welcome … More Jamaica Update, August 3, 2021: Andrew pleas for peace, Elaine flies down the track, and everyone must get vaxxed

A COVID-19 Update from Jamaica: Manchester, Vaccines, Testing and More

January 26, 2021

This morning the Ministry of Health and Wellness held a press briefing. This was most welcome as we had not had one since January 2, and a lot has happened since then. So it was fairly long and time ran out before the Minister had got through all the questions (I am waiting for answers … More A COVID-19 Update from Jamaica: Manchester, Vaccines, Testing and More

A Night Curfew Starts Tomorrow, and 38 COVID-19 Cases Now Confirmed in Jamaica

April 1, 2020

The latest news on COVID-19 in Jamaica seems rather mixed, but we have to take everything “one day at a time” these days. Firstly, Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced at last night’s press briefing that a curfew will be imposed, beginning tomorrow (Wednesday, April 1) at 8:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m., and ending at 6:00 … More A Night Curfew Starts Tomorrow, and 38 COVID-19 Cases Now Confirmed in Jamaica

Jamaica Records Its First Death from COVID-19 and Other News on March 18, 2020

March 19, 2020

There was another press briefing this evening at the Office of the Prime Minister. Here are the highlights and you can watch it all here. Firstly, a Jamaican man from Clarendon, traveling from New York, sadly passed away from COVID-19 at 3:00 p.m. this afternoon. He was 79 years old and already suffering from diabetes … More Jamaica Records Its First Death from COVID-19 and Other News on March 18, 2020

Rehabilitation Centre to Expand as Number of Road Crash and Violent Crime Victims Increases

February 8, 2020

I am writing a lot about health recently. Yes, environmental issues are still very much on my mind, but I will have to get back to them later. However, please bear with me. This year, I am seeing a lot of linkages: between crime, violence, road crashes – and health. The year has not started … More Rehabilitation Centre to Expand as Number of Road Crash and Violent Crime Victims Increases

A Coronavirus Update from Jamaica

February 2, 2020

It has been quite a week for Health and Wellness Minister Christopher Tufton, who updated the Jamaican Parliament on the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) on Wednesday, January 29. On the following day, the World Health Organization announced a global health emergency – and health officials around the world had a re-think on what measures were appropriate to prevent … More A Coronavirus Update from Jamaica

A Nervous Tuesday: That Virus, and an Earthquake

January 29, 2020

It started off as quite a normal Tuesday. I attended the launch and signing of the contract for a major health program – the Health Systems Strengthening Programme – at the Courtyard Marriott. I will provide more details in my next blog post; suffice it to say that it is the largest health infrastructure program … More A Nervous Tuesday: That Virus, and an Earthquake

Ministry of Health and Wellness Update on Dengue Fever Outbreak (Delivered to Parliament, Tuesday, November 12)

November 13, 2019

The ongoing outbreak of dengue fever continues to create anxiety and concern among the general public, especially in relation to young children and other vulnerable Jamaicans. But panicking won’t help. Everyone needs to take responsibility for their health and the health of others. And it’s amazing how irresponsible some citizens are – almost deliberately so. In … More Ministry of Health and Wellness Update on Dengue Fever Outbreak (Delivered to Parliament, Tuesday, November 12)

Children up to 12 Years Can Access Free Medical Care at University Hospital

October 30, 2019

Cases of dengue fever persist, and challenges remain. As Minister of Health and Wellness Christopher Tufton stresses repeatedly, the best way to deal with it is to destroy breeding sites (80 percent of them are around the home). As he also pointed out – dengue fever is here to stay. There used to be a … More Children up to 12 Years Can Access Free Medical Care at University Hospital

Jamaicans for Justice at Work, Part 1: University Hospital of the West Indies

September 20, 2018

I have always had the deepest respect for Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ), the human rights lobby group founded in 1999 by the “likkle but tallawah” Dr Carolyn Gomes. The group has, over the years, faced many challenges – including the perception by Jamaicans (and all too often, human beings in general) that human rights are … More Jamaicans for Justice at Work, Part 1: University Hospital of the West Indies