The Intersection of Gender, Culture and Education: Jamaica: The Next 50 Years!

Many Jamaicans were uncomfortable with the recent visit of Prince William and his wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. The British Royal couple visited Jamaica from March 22-24, 2022 in order to commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s 11 Platinum Jubilee. Jamaica is currently in her 60th year of political independence from England and a robust discussion has ensued in many quarters regarding Jamaica becoming a republic. It is sad, however not surprising that many Jamaicans have not made the connection between the country’s present social and economic conditions to that of the past. Jamaica is a product of years of enslavement and colonization. Unfortunately, Jamaica’s current education system does not support the compulsory teaching of history and as such many of us are unfamiliar with our past. While we are all entitled to our own opinions, we should at all times ensure that our views are based on facts. Many of us were left in utter disbelief recently when during a vox-pop one male parti...

Tuberculosis (TB) is a potentially serious infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs. The bacteria that cause tuberculosis are spread from person to person through tiny droplets released into the air via coughs and sneezes. Once rare in developed countries, tuberculosis infections began increasing in 1985, partly because of the emergence of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. HIV weakens a person's immune system. In the United States, because of stronger control programmes, tuberculosis began to decrease again in 1993, however, it remains a concern. Many tuberculosis strains resist the drugs most used to treat the disease. People with active tuberculosis must take many types of medications for months to get rid of the infection and prevent antibiotic resistance. World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is an opportunity to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of TB, while voicing a warning about the threat of drug-resistant TB. The date mark...

“As the planet adapts to a changing climate and rising population, groundwater will play an essential role in meeting the growing demand for food and drinking water. Yet this essential resource faces serious risks – including inadequate protection and sometimes irreversible pollution. For all these reasons UNESCO is celebrating this essential resource because better protecting and managing groundwater is our collective responsibility, and in our collective interest..”- Audrey Azoulay, director general of UNESCO. Water is the one primary resource which all living life form depends on for their survival. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), approximately 71 percent of the Earth’s surface is water-covered, and the oceans hold about 96.5 percent of all the Earth’s water. The vast majority of water on the Earth's surface, over 96 percent, is saline water in the oceans. The freshwater resources, such as water falling from the skies and moving into streams, rivers,...

When was the last time you paid a visit to your dentist? Dental care can be rather expensive, more so without health insurance. In many poor income families going to the dentist is a luxury. As a result, many of us tend to neglect our oral health. However, research has stated that there is link between our overall well-being and that of our oral health. Additionally, the on-going COVID-19 pandemic has also played a significant role in delaying oral health care for many in need of same. The World Health Organization (WHO), states most oral health conditions are largely preventable and can be treated in their early stages. The majority of cases are dental caries (tooth decay), periodontal diseases, oral cancers, oro-dental trauma, cleft lip and palate, and noma (severe gangrenous disease starting in the mouth mostly affecting children). The Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 estimated that oral diseases affect close to 3.5 billion people worldwide, with caries of permanent teeth being ...

“And because mathematics is everywhere and is critical to making informed and effective decisions, this year on this Day we are publishing Mathematics in Action– a guide to explain to decision-makers how they can use this treasure trove of human intelligence, especially to inform the future. Modelling can indeed be particularly powerful – the fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has shown this – provided that it is used, that its pitfalls and potential are understood, and that entire fields of public action are not allowed to escape democratic discussion. As humanity faces immense challenges, it is crucial that the power of mathematics be both better understood and more balanced.”- Audrey Azoulay, director general of UNESCO. It is quite unfortunate that so many of us have a negative perception of mathematics. It is safe to say that there is phobia in many societies and cultures regarding mathematics. As a result of this fear grounded in a flawed perception of ...

“No country can every truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contribution of half its citizens.”- Michelle Obama. Each year the international community looks forward to the celebrations and activities surrounding International Women’s Day. Over the years there have been significant changes and attitudinal shift concerning society’s perception of women's equality and empowerment. This year International Women’s Day will be observed on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. International Women's Day (IWD) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. IWD is accompanied with considerable activities organized and witnessed worldwide as non-governmental organizations (NGO’s), women groups join forces and resources to celebrate women's achievements or rally for women's equality. The theme for International Women’s Day is Gender E...

All or most of us can attest to the unwelcomed weight gain over the last two years. The last two years have been stressful for the majority of us. We have lost loved ones to the coronavirus; many of us have also contracted and have recovered from COVID-19. Children have had to adapt to online learning platforms while working from home became very common during the pandemic. In times of stress it’s not uncommon to gain a few extra pounds; and gain a few pounds we did. Obesity is one of the most severe public health challenges facing the world today. Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. A body mass index (BMI) over 25 is considered overweight, and over 30 is obese. The issue has grown to epidemic proportions, with over 4 million people dying each year as a result of being overweight or obese in 2017 according to the global burden of disease. Once considered a problem only in high-income countries, overweight and o...

"Who in the Lord's name does Putin think gives him the right to declare new so-called countries on territory that belonged to his neighbours?"- Joe Biden, US President. Russia over the years has become accustomed to sanctions from Western governments. Many will argue that by now sanctions have been rendered ineffective as Putin and his inner circle of oligarchs have always found a way to circumvent these sanctions. Vladimir Putin was elected president of Russia in March 2000. The world has watched over the years how he has stifled Opposition in Russia and meddled into the internal affairs of former Soviet Union republics. Many opposition leaders have met an untimely death, have been jailed or have fled in exile. On February 27, 2015, opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was gunned down within sight of the Kremlin, just days after he had spoken out against Russian intervention in Ukraine. It is therefore no surprise that the Russian president and dictator Vladimir Putin has d...