Residents of Runaway Bay and surrounding areas in St. Ann are now accessing primary health care in more comfortable surroundings following the refurbishing of the community health centre. The work was done under the Ministry of Health and Wellness ‘Operation Refresh’ programme and included roof and ceiling repair; installation of an air conditioning unit; improvement of the reception area; placement...

Residents of Portland are being urged to take precautionary measures against respiratory illnesses, including the common cold and influenza, as the parish experiences a seasonal rise in cases. The advice comes from Medical Officer of Health for the parish, Dr. Sharon Lewis, while addressing the Portland Municipal Corporation’s monthly meeting on January 8 in Port Antonio. Dr. Lewis, who was...

Four new ambulances have been added to the fleet of the North East Regional Health Authority (NERHA) to strengthen its patient transport capacity. Regional Director, Fabia Lamm, told journalists following the handover at the NERHA offices in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, on Tuesday (January 13), that the ambulances will be assigned to the St. Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital and the...

Regional Director of the North East Regional Health Authority (NERHA), Fabia Lamm, says the region has made significant progress in improving ambulance coverage, even as work continues to enhance how the service is managed and deployed. Speaking to journalists following the handover of four ambulances at the NERHA offices in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, on January 13, Ms. Lamm said...

The Westmoreland Public Health Department is reporting a reduction in mosquito indices across the parish. Chief Public Health Inspector, Steve Morris, told JIS News that the decline follows weeks of aggressive fogging and community interventions. “At the end of November, we were at [approximately] 11 per cent, and our Breteau index was at 26 per cent. The last assessment we...

Two community water filtration facilities were recently commissioned in Westmoreland to improve access to potable water in communities that have faced long-standing challenges. The initiative was undertaken through a partnership involving GlobalMedic, community partner Rosa Young, and the Westmoreland Public Health Department. Health Promotion and Education Officer at the Westmoreland Public Health Department, Gerald Miller, told JIS News that the...

The St. Thomas Health Department is reporting a reduction in the population of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the primary vector for the dengue virus. This positive development follows coordinated interventions after the passage of Hurricane Melissa on October 28, 2025. Chief Public Health Inspector for the parish, Pauline Ellington, made the disclosure at the first meeting of the St. Thomas...