The Spanish Town Hospital in St Catherine has received 10 refurbished hemodialysis machines, valued more than $28 million, from Florida-based entity - Renal Dynamics.

Hemodialysis machines filter wastes, salts, and fluid from the blood when the kidneys are no longer healthy enough to adequately perform this function.

Hemodialysis is one way to treat advanced kidney failure and can help persons carry on active lives.

South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) Chairman, Wentworth Charles, speaking at the handover ceremony at the hospital yesterday, said the machines will assist in providing healthcare for patients with kidney disease.

He said that the Renal Dialysis Unit saw more than 4,700 kidney patients between August 2021 and August 2022.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness said that some public schools are charging parents "exorbitant fees, which are exclusionary."

Holness, speaking at a recent education townhall at Jamaica College in Kingston, said students must not be denied access to classrooms and school resources because of unpaid fees.

"If we are truly serious about creating this equal society, then how can we punish a child who, by virtue of their household income, is unable to meet the school fee of the school in which the State places them?" he asked rhetorically.

Holness said students from low-income households should be able to attend school without feeling discriminated against due to their guardian's "ability or inability to pay."

"It so happens that there [is] a high correlation between [student] performance and household income. But if we are to break that, then we need to ensure that all our children have access to a high-quality education," he pointed out.

Minister of Education and Youth, Fayval Williams, has condemned the stabbing of a security guard at the Herbert Morrison Technical High School last Friday as being "totally unacceptable and outrageous behaviour" by a parent.

It is reported that the security guard attempted to bar a parent from entering the compound last Friday, September 9, because he considered her deportment in violation of the school's dress code. The parent allegedly insisted on being allowed to enter the premises and the ensuing argument escalated.

The parent is reported to have used a pair of scissors to stab the security guard.

"This kind of behaviour is to be condemned in the strongest possible terms. We cannot expect to set a good example to children by resorting to violence when we have disagreements. Last Friday's incident as reported and captured on phone videos suggests this attack took place in full view of students. This is outrageous and cannot be condoned," Williams said.

The Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) has advised that the deadline to register for the next Voters' List is September 30. The list is scheduled to be published on November 30.

Persons seeking to become registered electors must apply in person at any EOJ constituency office. Following the in-office application, the applicant will be visited by a team from the EOJ to have his/her residence verified to complete the application process.

Electors who meet the September 30 deadline should expect to receive their voter identification card by mid-December. Individuals who register after September 30 will have to wait to be added to the May 31, 2023 list.

To be eligible for registration you must be a Jamaican or Commonwealth citizen, at least 18 years of age, and must be ordinarily resident in Jamaica for at least 12 months prior to registration.

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