As the world celebrates World AIDS Day, concerns are growing over the slow take-up rate of the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) HIV drug in Jamaica.
Read more: Concern over slow take-up of HIV pre-exposure drug
The World Health Organization (WHO) has renamed monkeypox as 'mpox', citing concerns the original name of the decades-old animal disease could be construed as discriminatory and racist.
In a statement Monday, the UN health agency said 'mpox' was its new preferred name for monkeypox, saying both names would be used for the next year while the old name is phased out.
WHO said it was concerned by the racist and stigmatizing language that arose after monkeypox spread to more than 100 countries.
It said numerous individuals and countries asked the organization to propose a way forward to change the name.
In August, WHO began consulting experts about renaming the disease, shortly after the UN agency declared monkeypox's spread to be a global emergency.
To date, there have been more than 80,000 cases identified in dozens of countries that had not previously reported the smallpox-related disease.
Until May, monkeypox, a disease that is thought to originate in animals, was not known to trigger large outbreaks beyond central and west Africa.
Jamaica has recorded a total 18 monkeypox cases as at Sunday, November 20.
HOPE is on the horizon for 500 out of 7,000 people who have been on elective surgery wait lists up to four years and longer, to finally access those procedures over the next 10 months.
The People’s National Party is calling for the immediate resignation of the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton, and a comprehensive probe into the deaths of 43% of the neonates in the nursery at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital (VJH).
Read more: PNP calls for immediate resignation of Health Minister Tufton
- 12 babies die from bacterial infection at Victoria Jubilee Hospital
- One more case of Monkeypox confirmed in Jamaica
- Jamaica, Cuba sign letters of intent for technical cooperation agreements on eye care and medical brigades
- At least one suspected death due to gastro reported - Health Ministry issues warning