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Jamaicans Still Being Encouraged to Get Covid-19 Vaccine

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#Jamaica, March 31, 2022 – The Ministry of Health and Wellness continues to encourage Jamaicans to get the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, as the virus remains a threat globally.

Portfolio Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, said that vaccine take-up “has gotten slower as persons perceive that the risk no longer exists or does not exist in a significant way as it did earlier”.

“COVID is still a threat. Although the numbers are low, people still die from COVID each day and there are still the vulnerabilities that those who have not been vaccinated will suffer from,” he pointed out while addressing a recent virtual COVID Conversations press briefing.

More than 1.39 million doses of vaccines have been administered, to date, comprising 687,499 first doses, 578,893 second doses, and 91,565 doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.  A total of 3,514 doses have been administered to immunocompromised persons.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie, informed that approximately 670,177 or 25 per cent of Jamaicans are fully vaccinated against the COVID-19.

“We have an additional four per cent of persons who would have received one dose and need to complete their vaccination. That will take us overall to 29 per cent of our population that has been touched with vaccination. We really need to get those numbers up,” she noted.

In addition, she said that only 28,793 booster doses have been administered and encouraged persons who are eligible to get their shots.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie,

Dr. Bisasor-McKenzie said that St. Thomas and Portland account for the lowest vaccination numbers, followed by St. Catherine.

“If it is that we have an increase in the number of cases, St. Catherine will be a real threat because of the density of the population and the very low level of vaccine take-up,” she pointed out.

Dr. Bisasor-McKenzie noted, further, that a number of persons in the vulnerable over-60 age group remain unvaccinated and encouraged those who have received two vaccine doses to take the booster shot, “so you can keep your immunity up and keep yourselves out of hospitals in case of any other new variant”.

The Chief Medical Officer reiterated that an increase in vaccine take-up is critical in reducing the number of confirmed cases, the positivity and reproductive rates, and hopitalisation and deaths.

She pointed out that 98 per cent of persons who have died due to COVID-19 are unvaccinated, with 0.8 per cent partially vaccinated and 1.2 per cent fully vaccinated.

 

Release: JIS

Contact: Chris Patterson

 

 

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UN Sec-Gen has special Message on Nelson Mandela Day

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Nelson Mandela showed us the extraordinary difference one person can make in building a better world.

And as the theme of this year’s Nelson Mandela International Day reminds us – combatting poverty and inequality is in our hands.

Our world is unequal and divided.

Hunger and poverty are rife.

The richest one per cent are responsible for the same quantity of planet-wrecking greenhouse gases as two-thirds of humanity.

These are not natural facts. They are the result of humanity’s choices. And we can decide to do things differently.

We can choose to eradicate poverty.

We can choose to end inequality.

We can choose to transform the international economic and financial system in the name of equity.

We can choose to fight racism, respect human rights, combat climate change, and create a world that works for all humanity.

Every one of us can contribute – through actions large and small.

I join the Nelson Mandela Foundation in urging everyone to perform 67 minutes of public service on Nelson Mandela International Day – one minute for each year he fought for justice.

Together, let’s honour Madiba’s legacy and turn our hands towards building a better world for all.

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AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF2024) set to strengthen Africa-CARICOM linkages  

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Speakers at ACTIF will include global superstars Viola Davis, Serena Williams, Didier Drogba and African and CARICOM Heads of States

 

Nassau, Bridgetown, Georgetown, May 28, 2024 – Excitement mounts as The Bahamas prepares to host the Afreximbank Annual Meetings (AAM) and the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF) from 12 – 14 June 2024 in The Bahamas. Themed “Owning Our Destiny: Economic Prosperity on the Platform of Global Africa,” ACTIF2024 is set to forge significant pathways for economic prosperity between Africa and the Caribbean.

Other distinguished speakers will include Heads of State from seven CARICOM countries, former Prime Ministers, Ministers of Trade, Economic Development and Finance, Dr. Roger W Ferguson, Former Vice Chair of the Federal Reserve, USA, Prof. Andreas Klasen, Professor of International Business and Director of the Institute for Trade and Innovation at Offenburg, and many more.

Professor Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Afreximbank, said: “We are witnessing shifts in the global economic landscape and the trade strategies of major economies, making it imperative for African and Caribbean nations to unite for mutual prosperity. The Afreximbank Annual Meetings and AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum in The Bahamas will serve as a strategic platform to enhance our economic bonds. These events indicate a vibrant assertion of our shared destiny. We are poised to harness the dynamic economic growth within our regions, enhancing our collective resilience and prosperity.”

The event promises to be a pivotal platform for high-level discussions on economic development and regional integration.

Building on the successes of the inaugural AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum held in Barbados in 2022 and the gathering last year in Guyana, this year’s Forum in The Bahamas will further elevate and expand upon the discussions and initiatives previously set in motion. ACTIF2023, which focused on strengthening economic bonds and creating new investment opportunities, sets a precedent for meaningful collaboration between Africa and the CARICOM nations.

Afreximbank invites industry leaders, trade organisations and other stakeholders in the CARICOM region to participate and attend.

Registration is now open at https://2024.afreximbankevents.com.

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International Community must address conflict between Israel and Iran

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Garfield Ekon

Staff Writer

With tensions between Israel and Iran at an all-time high, a United Nations affiliated group is urging for calm and dialogue as their violent actions can cause tragic devastation on innocent civilians.

According to Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), an organisation that is dedicated to promoting peace through civilian-led initiatives, “it is a clear indication that the greatest victims of war are innocent civilians. 

How could those lost lives ever be brought back? What could compensate for the outcry of children and the anguish of the youth in devastated dwellings?,” the group noted in a media statement, adding that  the international community should  take “decisive measures” to address the conflict.

It is also advocating for the establishment of “comprehensive international laws” to safeguard peace for future generations. “HWPL remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering dialogue and reconciliation, offering hope for a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Israel and Iran,” the group said.

HWPL is a non-profit organisation, with a mission to promoting peace through education, and advocacy. It has a global network spanning over 170 countries. The organisation works to build bridges of understanding and cooperation, striving towards a world free from conflict and violence.

According to reports in various international media outlets, Iran and its militant partners on April 13 initiated a large-scale attack against Israel through launching several hundred ballistic missiles and drones. The international society expressed concerns over the possibility of war between the two states, since Tehran’s direct attack on Israel was unprecedented.

Experts have pointed out that the attack on Israel was Iran’s response to an airstrike on the Iranian embassy in Syria on April 1, which killed seven military advisers including three senior commanders.

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