Fontana Pharmacy Donates $100,000 to Assist Zika Fight

The Ministry of Health has received a $100,000 donation from Fontana Pharmacy to assist in the fight against the Zika virus.

Representatives of the entity handed over the cheque during a ceremony held Tuesday (April 5) at the Ministry of Health’s offices on Grenada Way, New Kingston.

In his remarks at the short ceremony, Portfolio Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, expressed gratitude for the support.

“I am very grateful for this contribution from Fontana Pharmacy to help in the fight against the Zika virus as well as other partners so far,” he said.

The donation is the continuation of a partnership established between Fontana and the Ministry in 2014 to tackle the chikungunya (CHIKV) outbreak.

In addition to the donation, the pharmacy, with technical support from the Ministry’s Disease Prevention and Control Unit, has developed an educational flyer on Zika prevention.

Dr. Tufton commended the agency’s commitment to protecting the health of the nation’s citizens by developing the flyer. The material, he said, complements the public education measures being undertaken by the Ministry.

The flyer advises on protective measures including the screening of windows and doors, the use of mosquito nets and insect repellent, which contains DEET.

It also provides information on eradicating breeding sites for the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits Zika; symptoms of the virus and persons most vulnerable to its effects.

These are pregnant women, children, the elderly as well as persons with underlying medical conditions.

The educational flyers are to be distributed to the public through the five Fontana Pharmacy locations in Kingston; Mandeville, Manchester; Montego Bay, St. James; Ocho Rios, St. Ann and Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland.