Students of the Maverley Primary and Junior High School have received a technological boost to assist with the completion of assignments and projects with the commissioning of a state-of-the-art computer lab at the institution.

The lab, which was financed by the Universal Service Fund, will also cater to residents of the Maverley community. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Wednesday, Minister of Science, Energy and Technology Hon. Fayval Williams said the opening of the computer lab is just one of several initiatives underway aimed at ensuring Jamaica becomes a knowledge-based society.

“This computer lab, which has been outfitted with 29 computers, desks and chairs, printers, state of the art air conditioning units and other infrastructure, was established at a cost of $11.43 million. We have made this investment in you and your future. And we are hoping to see exponential returns, through your use of technology to unearth your potential.” Minister Williams said.

She added that the USF is currently conducting an audit of the community computer labs established by the entity to determine their effectiveness and efficiency.

The Maverley Primary and Junior High Community Access Point brings to 310 the number of computer labs established by the USF. Chief Executive Officer Daniel Dawes says the newly commissioned lab is not just a gateway to the internet but to a brighter future.

“It’s up to all of us to make sure we walk through that door towards these technological opportunities and that we are fully prepared to grasp these opportunities with both hands.” Dawes said. The commissioning of the Maverley Primary and Junior High School Community Access Point was also supported by Member of Parliament for St. Andrew North Western and Minister of Finance and the Public Service Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, Managing Director of National Energy Solutions Abdon Campbell and members of the Maverley Community. The commissioning ceremony formed part of the USF’s 14^th Anniversary celebrations. The weeklong commemoration will continue with a Road Show in Junction St. Elizabeth on Friday May 17 and a Thanksgiving service on Sunday May 19 at the Fellowship Tabernacle in St. Andrew.

Scores of persons who require blood donations over the next few weeks will be able to receive the precious resource thanks to the efforts of the Universal Service Fund.

The Agency recently staged a pre-Valentine’s day blood drive in partnership with the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS).

Sixty-three (63) persons registered for the blood drive; exceeding the target of fifty (50) set by the NBTS. After screening, thirty-seven (37) individuals were given the go ahead by the medical team on-site to donate.

Marketing and Public Relations Manager at the USF, Ms. Deleen Powell, said the drive falls under the Agency’s ‘Tech Love’ arm, which sees the USF positively impacting Jamaicans through social interventions.

“At the USF, we believe in providing service from the heart, and saw the blood drive as a fitting way for us to have a positive impact on our staff and our wider private and public sector community, by encouraging persons to donate the precious resource, and also to become regular donors” Powell said.

Blood donor organizer at the NBTS, Igol Allen, said while the actual donation is important to the blood bank and eventual recipient, there are also a myriad of benefits for the donor.

“Benefits include improved heart health, enhanced production of new blood cells and reduced cancer risk. Screening conducted at the time of donation also helps individuals to know their blood type and vital numbers in relation to blood sugar levels, cholesterol and iron.”

The Universal Service Fund is an Agency of the Ministry of Science and Technology mandated to provide Universal Access to the internet to Jamaicans of all walks of life. The USF achieves this mandate through the expansion of the national broadband network, the establishment of public wi-fi hotspots and Community Computer Labs and the execution of special ICT related projects.

With 16 dengue related deaths now confirmed, the Universal Service Fund is seeking to strengthen the country’s capabilities to fight this and other health related threats through technology.

The USF has funded the implementation of an infection control surveillance system at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) to the tune of $31.7 million.

The system, which was commissioned on Wednesday (January 23), manages information across the UHWI and allows for data capture in relation to infection control practices and surveillance of all infections.

As a result, the system has seen to the full digitization of the UHWI’s Infection Prevention and Control Unit’s data collection and analysis process.

Speaking at the official handover ceremony, Chief Executive Officer at the USF, Mr Daniel Dawes, said the Agency’s financing of the UHWI infection control system forms part of the overarching thrust of the USF to provide technological support across a wide cross section of sectors, in a bid to improve efficiency.

“We have seen world-wide how Information and Communication Technology can facilitate development and can assist in achieving targets in education, finance and health. This system will help the UHWI to more effectively combat outbreaks of infection and disease as it will now have valuable and credible data at its fingertips to inform the decision-making process” Dawes said.

Chief Medical Officer at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Dr Carl Bruce, says the system is part of a comprehensive scheme, designed to manage data across the entire hospital.

“Once implemented the Hospital Information Management System (HIMS) will streamline and centralize all patient data through digitisation. This system will help the hospital to have greater control over access to patient data and enable easier sharing of information among authorized medical personnel” Dr. Bruce said. 

“This can lead to faster diagnosis and treatment, and in the case of infectious diseases, the hospital is now better able to prevent and manage the spread” he said.

The project included the creation of a hospital wide network complete with desktop computers, tablets, a printer and the related Information and Communication Technology infrastructure.