Guyana has launched its Tobacco Control Council.

It will be tasked with regulating legislation governing tobacco use in the country.

Health officials in Georgetown say non communicable diseases account for 78 per cent of deaths in the country. And many cases are linked to tobacco use.

Health Minister Volda Lawrence says the appointment of the council is timely, as there are concerns that more than half of the adult population smokes.

The Global Youth Tobacco Survey of 2015 showed that 14 per cent of adolescents also use tobacco.

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The Jamaica government has given its commitment to providing support to persons suffering from Lupus.

Government recently introduced a 340-million dollar Lupus Subsidy programme to coincide with Lupus Awareness month in May. 

In his budget presentation in March, Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced that Lupus would be included on the list of the national Health Fund’s drug subsidies.

Under this programme, people suffering from Lupus will have access to medication at a reduced cost.

Meanwhile Dr Tufton says government will be holding public consultations on a national health insurance plan. The Green paper was tabled in parliament last week.

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The spotlight is once again on mosquito-borne diseases, as the Caribbean observes Mosquito Awareness Week 2019.

And the Caribbean Public Health Agency is warning that as the rainy season approaches, the region must step up efforts to deal with mosquitoes, which it describes as the world’s deadliest animal.