KINGSTON, JAMAICA: Executive Chairman of the LASCO Affiliated Companies, Lascelles Chin OJ CD, has charged the inaugural graduating class of the Caribbean School of Medical Sciences Jamaica (CSMSJ) to become ambassadors; to fly the flag of the institution high, and impact lives while building their own careers.

At a commencement ceremony held at Shortwood Teachers College on Sunday, November 21, 2021, the 13 graduates, which comprised four medical doctors and nine holders of Associate Degrees in Natural and Applied Sciences, were encouraged by Mr Chin to reach for the highest ideals.

“This graduation is indeed a historic milestone, in the annals of the Caribbean School for the Medical Sciences in Jamaica. It will always resound in the hearts of the first graduates here, and in the history and legacy of this institution. This is a moment to treasure, with great pride and joy. Congratulations to faculty and graduates of CSMSJ, on this outstanding achievement, which is a testimony to the awesome power of dreams,” said Mr Chin as he shared with the audience inside the Marjorie Myers Auditorium.

Dr Jamila McFarlane is greeted by Keynote Speaker, the Honourable Lascelles Chin after she received her doctoral award at the graduation ceremony on Sunday, November 21, 2021. Dr McFarlane is one of four medical doctors who matriculated.

Speaking also at the ceremony, the Honourable Fayval Williams, minister of education, youth and information echoed the uniqueness of the group. “You have been well-prepared to enter the specific areas of your career interests and I wish you well. I wish all of you the best. At the same time I want to encourage you to continue to look for opportunities for further training. We never stop learning and I trust you will embrace the idea of lifelong learning.”

“You’re graduating at a time when COVID has significantly increased the acceptance of technology in all facets of our lives. We have become used to getting many services online, including health services, and I want to encourage you to embrace technology in the offerings so that all our citizens can have access to healthcare,” she added. 

The CSMSJ though still in the stage of infancy has a big vision for its contribution to the country and humanity.
The CSMSJ is the brainchild of general consultant and laparoscopic surgeon Dr Neville Graham and his team with the aim of providing world-class training, while developing a quality workforce of professionals, ready to confront and conquer the challenges of 21st-century medicine.

“Our students are bonded to work in Jamaica for two years after graduating. Imagine that, giving back. Instead of four, we’d like to graduate 50. We want to support what UWI is doing as well, and what other institutions are doing. We want to graduate 100 nurses. We want to graduate 40 dentists but we have to talk. We need some help because when this becomes what we want it to be, we will be helping Jamaica even more. Now we’re helping our patients, we’re helping our community, we’re doing research but we want to be a bigger help for our people, and a bigger contribution to humanity,” expressed Executive Dean and Founder of the CSMSJ, Dr Neville Graham.

Speaking specifically to the medical doctors, the Executive Chairman encouraged them even further to make a difference  in the workplace, contributing to society and helping to save lives.

“I will remind you that in Jamaica there is the sad ratio of one medical doctor, to every five thousand persons in rural areas, and one per every one thousand four hundred persons, in urban areas.  These ratios, graduates, fall well below the World Health Organisation’s standard of one doctor, per two hundred and fifty persons. As you embark on your life in the medical sciences field, I would also like you to understand that it will be risky and it will have disappointments along with unspeakable joy.  But this is one of the best jobs in the world. You will have the opportunity to save lives and touch the lives of people at their most vulnerable times,” the philanthropist encouraged.  

The founders of the institution were also on the receiving end of commendations from LASCO’s Visionary. Mr Chin openly congratulated them on their vision to establish the CSMSJ, and the tenacity which has been displayed to keep it afloat during the testing times of its burgeoning years.

“This graduation ceremony is testimony of your deep and abiding commitment to the Caribbean region. Patriotism at its finest.  You saw supremely qualified students across the Caribbean, who are unable to be accommodated in the limited spaces at our traditional Universities for the Medical Sciences.”

About the Caribbean School of Medical Sciences (CSMSJ)

CSMSJ became a chartered institute of Jamaica on June 30, 2017 and is also registered by the Jamaica Tertiary Education Commission (JTEC) and listed on the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) and the World Directory of Medical Schools. The institution has been registered by the University Council of Jamaica since 2018 and its Associate of Science degree in Natural and Applied Sciences has been fully accredited since August 2021.

The institution was formed by leading medical professionals. Students receive an education from the best tutors and lecturers, hailing from Jamaica, Cuba, USA, and India. These practitioners are dedicated to imparting their knowledge to the next generation.

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The school, established in 2014, and officially became a chartered institute of Jamaica on June 30, 2017, proudly saw four students graduating with doctor of medicine degrees and nine other students graduating with associate degrees in natural and applied science. 

CSMSJ’s Chancellor, Professor Earl Taylor, said in his remarks at the ceremony that it was a “mammoth task” to establish the institution.   

“It’s a project that has had many turns, many challenges, and has passed many hurdles, but it has overcome all of them. And as we struggle like the rest of the economy in a pandemic era, you can imagine the struggle and sacrifice that our students have had,” Taylor said. 

Commending the lecturers and staff for their efforts placed in running the school, Taylor also stated, “Our students are also deserving of our commendations because they have persisted and persevered through difficult times and when all things were low they had to remain high. I believe that is what we require of our future generation, we want young men and women who know what they want and who are willing to sacrifice and to put in the energy and the work to accomplish their missions.”

Meanwhile, CSMSJ’s Board Chair, Richard Jones, confirmed that the Executive Dean and founder, Dr Neville Graham had dreamed of opening a first-class medical college in Jamaica, which was owned not by “foreign interests” but by Caribbean nationals. 

“Turning his [Graham] gaze to the Caribbean landscape he was struck by the absence of medical schools owned by nationals, despite the presence of some 40 off-shore medical colleges in the region,” he noted, adding that the college faced countless criticism but they were able to prevail nonetheless. 

“The CSMSJ, owned by Caribbean nationals and open to the sons and daughters of ordinary working people from the Caribbean, Africa, North America and beyond, was born,” Jones continued.  

 At the same time, while giving his dean’s report, Graham applauded the graduating class saying,  “As doctors and health science professionals the staff, the parents, your family and your friends have seen you grow and mature. We have seen the sacrifices, the sleepless nights, the tears and now the joy of success.” 

“…We are proud of the reports that we have received from institutions you have attended. Your knowledge and conduct have made us proud,” Graham stated. 

The CSMSJ is the third medical school in Jamaica, and it offers an associate degree in natural and applied sciences that prepares students to sit the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) or allows them to matriculate to the four-year doctor of medicine degree programme, which prepares them to sit the United States Medical Licensing Examination.

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While it is welcome news that Jamaicans will have access to a vaccine within a matter of months, the reality, as announced by Tufton in the House of Representatives on Tuesday is that a mere 16 per cent of Jamaicans would have received the jab against the coronavirus by the end of 2021. This means that Jamaicans will likely remain under some form of COVID-19 restrictions for at least the next 12 months. This, since up to 70 per cent or more of a population must be vaccinated to slow/prevent the spread of the virus, according to leading health experts.

“The expectation is that, in the first instance, Jamaica will vaccinate 16 per cent of our population with the goal to protect public health and minimise the economic impact by reducing COVID-19 mortality. The intention is to prioritise the vaccination of our health workers who are at the very high risk of acquiring and transmitting infection and our older adults who we understand are among the most vulnerable to adverse outcomes and death associated with COVID-19 infection,” Tufton said.

“The projected schedule is to have a vaccine ready for administration to some one per cent of the initial 16 per cent of the population by April 2021, another three per cent by mid-2021 and the remaining percentage by the end of 2021,” Tufton added.

He told the House that while things could change, it was important to be transparent with the likely scheduling and the quantities that would be available during this period.

“I want us to be clear that we can’t hang all of our hopes, and afford to be complacent on the knowledge or the hope that there’s going to be a vaccine very soon and that most persons are going to have access to it. That is an ideal but an ideal that is not likely to be achieved at least in the short-term,” the minister stated.

As such, Tufton said it was therefore important that we maintain our vigilance with our other response measures. “The fact is that we have another year or so before I think we will be in a position where the world can breathe a sigh of relief based on vaccination as a solution (when) significant progress would have been made. We therefore have to manage the process very carefully”.

Tufton told the House that the members of the Commission include representatives of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the National Health Fund, the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, the Medical Association of Jamaica, the Nurses Association of Jamaica, the Jamaica Medical Doctors Association, the University of the West Indies, the Jamaica Council of Churches, the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica and the Jamaica Defence Force.

Among the responsibilities of the Commission are to:

– provide guidance and oversight in the development of a National COVID-19 Deployment and Vaccination Plan for the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines;

– provide oversight in the designing of strategies for the deployment, implementation and monitoring of a COVID-19 vaccine(s) in Jamaica;

– provide guidance in ensuring that the plan and related financing is well aligned to other national COVID-19 recovery and response and support plans, and that implementation is fully integrated and coordinated;

– guide the establishment of an operations process for coordination, information and communication;

– provide guidance in the design and implementation of a public education campaign; and

– support the implementation of health services readiness and capacity assessments to identify bottlenecks and guide delivery of vaccines and other essential supplies.

“Among other things, the Commission will also, to the extent possible, facilitate cooperation at policy, technical and local levels between government, non-governmental, private sector agencies or organisation, and civil society in the process of the plan’s development and implementation,” Tufton added.

“With more than 66 million people globally having become infected by the virus and more than 1.5 million having lost their lives, vaccination as a response to containing the disease cannot be overlooked,” the minister stressed.

“Here in Jamaica, with more than 11,000 infections and 265 deaths, vaccination must form a part of our COVID-19 response efforts,” he continued.

Tufton acknowledged that the issue of a COVID-19 vaccine “has been a source of anxiety for some as we continue to navigate the new normal imposed by the pandemic”.

As such, he said the Ministry of Health & Wellness and the Government of Jamaica would seek to ensure that COVID-19 vaccination is administered safely. To that end, he said that a National Vaccination and Deployment Plan is being developed for consideration by the Commission. The elements of that plan include the management structure; a review of the legal framework; demand generation and communication; training; vaccine cold chain and logistics; safety surveillance; and information systems.

“Once finalised, the plan will be shared with the members of this honourable House and the people of Jamaica in whose best interest we are operating as we seek to secure for them the best possible health outcomes from COVID-19,” the minister told the Parliament.

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Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor McKenzie, cautioned that “the flu can also worsen chronic medical conditions such as heart or lung disease. Persons at highest risk of dangerous complications from the flu are infants and young children, adults 60 years and older, pregnant women, and persons with chronic medical conditions or weakened immune systems.”

The Ministry has made available the flu vaccine free of cost in the public health system to high-risk members of the population, including: Healthcare workers; children and elderly with chronic illnesses; pregnant women; individuals who are institutionalised or in statecare; and non-health frontline workers.

Private healthcare providers are encouraged to procure the influenza vaccine through private distributors in order to provide for the general population. The flu vaccination is recommended annually every flu season.

“At the same time, we want to remind members of the public to practice good hygiene, including washing hands with soap and water; and covering the mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing, which will help to prevent the transmission of the virus.” Dr. Bisasor McKenzie added. “Persons with the flu should get adequate rest, avoid close contact and avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.”

As necessary, members of the public may visit their doctor or health centre, some of which have extended opening hours.

Source: Ministry of Health & Wellness (MOHW)

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1. Taking antibiotics when they are not needed accelerates emergence of antibiotic resistance, one of the biggest threats to global health.

2. Antibiotic resistant infections can lead to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs and more deaths.

3. Overuse of antibiotics can cause bacteria to become resistant, meaning current treatments will no longer work.

4. Antibiotic resistant infections can affect anyone, of any age, in any country.

5. It is bacteria itself that becomes resistant to antibiotics- not the person or the animal.

6. When bacteria become resistant to antibiotics common infections will no longer be treatable.

Source: World Health Organization (WHO)

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The countries in the Region that had reported confirmed measles cases were: Argentina, the Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru, USA, Uruguay, and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Source: Ministry of Health and Wellness, Jamaica.

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Transmission
The disease is carried by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female mosquitoes.

Symptoms
Dengue fever occurs in one of two forms. The mild form produces:
• A fever of 40˚ C or higher
• Headache
• Muscle, bone, and joint pain
• Nausea
• Pain behind the eyes
• Rash
• Swollen glands
• Vomiting

Its more severe form, called Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever, can also cause haemorrhaging, a sudden drop in blood pressure, and death.

Prevention
The Ministry of Health (MOH) has provided information to help Jamaicans combat the disease and limit the spread of Dengue Fever. Some tips are:
• Use a mosquito repellent containing DEET on skin and clothing
• Sleep under a mosquito net
• Get treatment promptly when symptoms appear to prevent progression of the disease
• Keep stored water covered
• Eliminate mosquito breeding sites (mainly still water and tall grass) around dwellings
• Close windows before nightfall
• Open windows during fogging

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The medical company is about to float its shares having recently been upgraded to a hospital by the Ministry of Health, and would be the first healthcare facility to take the plunge, assuming it follows through on the offer.

“We were an ambulatory service before,” said CEO Everton Spencer. “Now we have been approved by the MOH for the care of in patients and outpatients. That’s why we want to increase our bed count,” he told Gleaner Business.

The initial public offering is meant to raise funds for expansion. The company is in the process of recruiting a broker to arrange the float.

The decade-old medical facility wants to grow into service that caters to some patients in their own language, specifically English and Spanish-speaking countries in the Caribbean, Central America and Sought America, Spencer outlined.

Winchester Medical, he noted, is already marketing its medical services abroad, with patients visiting from Turks & Caicos Islands, South Korea, Japan and countries in Central and South America.

On Monday, Spencer said the medical company’s seven shareholders all medical doctors will make an initial public offer to the market by midyear 2018.

The company is chaired by surgeon and shareholder Dr Neville Graham, and the other six also work at the Kingston-based institute. They are part of Winchester Medical’s corps of 20 specialist doctors.

Winchester is close to selecting a broker for the listing, having already completed a business plan and explored governance issues, the CEO said.

The IPO will seek to raise $300 million needed to triple the number of hospital beds, and add equipment, and hire bilingual staff under a three-year development plan, he told Gleaner Business.

Spencer said the medical centre currently has assets valued near the amount sought from the market, including $40 million of new equipment installed in its three operating theatres.

Winchester Medical specialises in family medicine, but also offers specialist services in areas such as haematology/oncology, vascular surgery and obstetrics, among others; and provides air ambulance and ground ambulance services in partnership with EMed. The owners also want to add more specialists, including in the area of dentistry.

Spencer said overseas clientele is not a large money-spinner for the centre, right now.

“We can say that based on the number of our clients and the procedures required under medical tourism our revenues have not been significant,” he said. “The target for the next 12 months is to have an average of 10 patients from overseas per month or 120 patients for the year. We plan to achieve this based on the marketing strategies”.

The company is trying to leverage business through relationships with “Jampro, Unesco and other international partners”, while its marketing efforts overseas promotes the medical centre as a place for “quiet convalescence and rapid healing”.

Promotions are heavily targeted at Jamaican communities overseas through radio and television health programmes.

Spencer said Winchester is setting up a subsidiary marketing company, that will be responsible for linking with radio and TV programmes, arranging call-in programmes to Jamaica from major international cities in which Jamaicans live, and conducting weekly health watch programmes, he said.

Source: The Gleaner

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The workshop was held in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad & Tobago on July-25-28, 2018.

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