No Case of Microcephaly
By: , September 30, 2016The Key Point:
Photo: Health Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton left), greets community members in Salt Spring, St. James, during a visit to the Health Centre on September 29. Member of Parliament for St. James Central, Heroy Clarke 2nd left), was also on the tour with Minister Tufton.
Health Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (left), greets community members in Salt Spring, St. James, during a visit to the Health Centre on September 29. Member of Parliament for St. James Central, Heroy Clarke (2nd left), was also on the tour with Minister Tufton.The Facts
- Dr. Tufton said the Ministry remains very transparent about the possibility of babies being born with the disease, noting that if and when any report is confirmed, details will be made available to the public.
- Microcephaly is a birth defect where a baby’s head is smaller than expected when compared to babies of the same sex and age. Babies with microcephaly often have smaller brains that might not have developed properly.
The Full Story
Health Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says he has not received any report of babies being born in Jamaica with microcephaly, as a result of the Zika virus (ZIKV).
Speaking to journalists while on a tour of health centres in St. James on September 29, the Minister said they have on record more than 500 pregnant women who have contracted ZIKV, but he is yet to be notified that any of those cases have resulted in a case of microcephaly.
Dr. Tufton said the Ministry remains very transparent about the possibility of babies being born with the disease, noting that if and when any report is confirmed, details will be made available to the public.
He added that the Government has taken a proactive position on the matter and has established a fund to address the possibility of babies being born with microcephaly.
“We have put in place $50 million to provide support, such as early stimulation and psychosocial counselling for the mothers. We have also provided training in the respective parishes in certain of the health facilities to deal with those cases, once they occur,” the Minister said.
Microcephaly is a birth defect where a baby’s head is smaller than expected when compared to babies of the same sex and age. Babies with microcephaly often have smaller brains that might not have developed properly.