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...

The lives of two retired healthcare professionals who devoted their careers to Alexandria Community Hospital in St. Ann stand as enduring testaments to the profound impact workers have on their communities. Though separated by generations, Aylete Brown-Hull and Blanche Williams-Lowers are united by a shared legacy of unwavering commitment to Jamaica’s health sector. Together, their careers span more than seven...

Two decades ago, a visionary young doctor stepped into the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA) with a bold mission: to reshape paediatric care across Western Jamaica. Fast forward to today, Dr. Garfield Badal serves as the WRHA’s Chief Pediatric Surgeon. His specialised training has not only guided operating rooms but also shaped the future of paediatric surgical care across the...

For two decades, Senior Maintenance Officer at the Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital in Westmoreland, Rayon Cunningham, has been the steadfast backbone behind the scenes at the institution. Through tireless dedication, he keeps life-saving equipment humming, lights glowing, and water flowing – sustaining the hospital’s heartbeat for patients and caregivers alike. “Maintenance and my role as a senior maintenance officer [are]...

Managing the impact of Lupus is a team effort for couple of 32 years Dr. Jacqueline Goulbourne and her husband, Dr. Kevin Goulbourne. Dr. Jacqueline is a Gerontologist, who studies aging and promotes well-being among older adults. She was diagnosed with Lupus in 2008, 15 years into their marriage. Over the years, her husband, who is a Consultant Psychiatrist, has...

As consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital, in Westmoreland, Dr. Darren Fray brings more than medical expertise to the operating theatre; he is passionate about healing, patient care, honesty, empathy and service. "I grew up in Montego Bay [St. James]. I went to Cornwall College, then Montego Bay Community College for CAPE. I did my medical training...