Celebrating 10 years To your health!
published: Wednesday | July 2, 2003
By Eulalee Thompson, Staff Reporter
THE GLEANER broke new grounds in local journalism 10 years ago when it decided to start a page dedicated to health issues, pre-empting the current health fad.
The first edition, on July 7, 1993, explored, with Professor Errol Morrison, the
issue of diabetes in Jamaica and from the starting mark, the series went down
well with readers.
It has been my privilege to have nurtured this project from its first edition. I have always considered the project a collaboration between journalism and the health profession, in the service of you, our readers, and we were constantly guided by your feedback. Over the years, I personally grew with the project, moving along the learning curve, becoming more comfortable in this specialist area of reportage - for this I am indebted to the unfading support of my mentors in journalism and in the health profession.
The series also went through changes over the years, expanding from one to two pages, taking on more exciting designs and along the way picking up dozens of local and overseas awards. Initially,
articles were didactic reporting of disease and
sickness but gradually they shifted into a broader analysis of health and well-being. Now in its 10th year, it is time to add yet another dimension to
local health coverage - to make you, our
readers, more active participants.
We are re-launching the project with a new name - "Your Health" - to reflect the evolving focus on health and wellness and every week, beginning today, we will expand our public service not only by incorporating articles from six health specialists - the pharmacist, nutritionist, psychiatrist, fitness expert, dentist and dermatologist -
but by inviting you, our readers, to direct your health concerns to these specialists.
From henceforth, consider Wednesdays your "health day" with your own
health specialists.
To your health!
Some awards won:
Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ) President's Award in recognition of
distinguished medical service (for the Profiles in Medicine publication),
May 28, 1994.
Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) media
award for excellence in Health Journalism. This award was received four times
between 1994 and 1998.
Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) Award for Health Journalism. This award
was received four times between 1994 and 1998.
PAHO/WHO award for Best Health Page in the Caribbean region, November,
2000.
PAHO/WHO National Award for Best Health Page, September, 2001.
PAHO/WHO Caribbean Media Award for Best Health Page, October, 2001.
Ministry of Health (Mental Health Services Department) award for coverage
of psychosocial issues in Profiles in Medicine, October 2001.
PAHO/ UNDCP Award for the Profiles in Medicine article "The Forbidden Herb",
October 2002.
PAHO/WHO Caribbean Media Awards for Best Health Page, October 2002.
Blue Cross of Jamaica's Partners in Health Care Award, October 2002.
