A picture speaks a thousand words and on a day when Jamaica breaks out in multiple radiant colours, the pictures are exceptional. This is Jamaica’s 59th year of Independence. A country that has fought against all odds for its freedom, where all...
Just like the euphoria that gripped the newly born Jamaica on August 6, 1962, when the country became independent from colonial rule, similar excitement will once again engulf the country this year. Considering the global impact of the COVID-19...
WORLD HEPATITIS Day (WHD) takes places every year on July 28, bringing the world together under a single theme to raise awareness of viral hepatitis and to influence real change. The day is being held under the theme: ‘Hepatitis Can’t Wait’....
Child abuse and neglect is a social and public health problem, as well as a children’s rights issue in Jamaica. Abuse and neglect can lead to a wide range of adverse consequences for children and young people. Child abuse and neglect refers to any...
Living with sickle cell disease can be a challenge; however, people with sickle cell disease can live full lives and enjoy most of the activities that other people do. Given that the condition is hereditary, Terran Wright was diagnosed with the...
Cancer may develop in anyone at any time, but historically, cancer is diagnosed in men more often than women. Some cancers only affect men because they develop in the male reproductive system, which includes the prostate, testicles and penis. June...
“You can sing!” I exclaimed. His voice, clear and melodious, rose succinctly above the heat of the midday sun that pelted us as we sat on the veranda. It’s never good to judge a book by its cover, and certainly the story of Roger Brown* will warm...
CHILDREN ARE not the face of the coronavirus pandemic, but they risk being among its biggest victims, as children’s lives are being changed in profound ways. All children, of all ages, and in all countries, are being affected, in particular by the...
Lupus is a lifelong disease that can affect many parts of your life. But, many women with lupus live long, healthy lives. You can take steps to control your symptoms, prevent lupus flares, and cope with the challenges of the illness. The disease...
Rheumatoid arthritis can be life-changing. You may need long-term treatment to control the symptoms and joint damage. Depending on how much pain and stiffness you feel and how much joint damage you have, simple daily tasks may become difficult or...
Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the ovaries. The female reproductive system contains two ovaries, one on each side of the uterus. The ovaries, each about the size of an almond, produce eggs, as well as the hormones oestrogen and...
Lyme disease or borreliosis is a tick-transmitted infection that affects mammalian and avian hosts. It is the most commonly diagnosed tick-borne disease in people in certain parts of the world, but is not known to occur in Jamaica beyond...
Prospective Research Innovations is a leading provider in clinical research trials, with a team of researchers, and 15 years of expertise and knowledge of study procedures and protocol compliance. Over the years, this organisation has been finding...
Cervical cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer affecting women, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Some 528,000 women have been diagnosed, with 266,000 dying from this disease in 2012. It is the fourth leading cause of...
AUTISM SPECTRUM Disorder, or ASD, is a neurodevelopmental disorder that involves challenges with social communication, restricted interests, repetitive patterns of behaviour, and unusual sensory sensitivities or interests. ASD is a diverse and...
Taneisha Pascoe-Matthews says parenting a child with autism is like being a tour guide, someone who must translate the customs and language of the non-autistic world. But when you have two children with autism, like she does, the job is...
Many women find a Pap smear test to be uncomfortable or scary and try to avoid going to their gynaecologist because of it. But the few minutes of discomfort are ultimately worth the health benefits. Pap smears help to identify suspicious cells in...
Nine in 10 women experience cramping or stabbing pain just before their monthly period or as it starts. Many women experience debilitating symptoms that they commonly believe are normal. However, no pain is good pain and it is possible that the...
Complementary and alternative medicine for colon cancer, also called CAM, involves non-traditional approaches to medicine that help manage a patient’s care. Used together with conventional medicine, it doesn’t replace traditional, science-based...
Your colon is a key player in your digestive system, which processes and delivers nutrients throughout your body to keep you strong and healthy. As such, eating well and maintaining a nutritious diet is one of the best ways you can prepare for and...
Dream big about what you want to achieve. As a child, Abrahim Simmonds wanted to make a difference in the lives of others. A natural people person, he was always concerned about the welfare of others and being a level-headed individual, he knew...
Vernessa Scarlett has a vivacious personality. Her smile and witty nature have defied the many challenges she has encountered during her lifetime. Behind the bubbly personality is a woman who has endured insurmountable pain, yet she continues to...
The human body is a self-healing, self-renewing, self-cleansing organism. When the right conditions are created, vibrant well-being is its natural state. However, we have departed from the ways of nature and live under less-than-natural conditions...
The holidays are an exciting time of good cheer, warm family traditions, and spending time with friends. For many people, the idea of entering a crowded room and chatting up co-workers or strangers at a party, exchanging gifts with friends,...
With the holidays fast approaching, many people are wondering if it is possible to safely celebrate during a pandemic. Should you visit relatives or have family and friends over? Nonetheless, your typical holiday gathering will look different this...
