The Hanover Health Department is urging continued vigilance against leptospirosis even as new and suspected cases of the disease are on the decline. Health Promotion and Education Officer for the parish, Andrene Smith-Benjamin, is advising residents to wear protective gear such as water boots and gloves as they conduct cleanup activities for Christmas. She noted that leptospirosis is commonly spread...

Jamaica has welcomed 49 army engineers and five medical doctors from the Republic of Ghana, to assist in the reconstruction and recovery efforts from the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa on October 28. Speaking at a reception for the soldiers on their arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport on December 18, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator...

The Ministry of Health & Wellness took its maternal outreach to the Ramble Health Centre in Hanover on Thursday (December 18), where new and expectant mothers received health checks and psychosocial support to ensure a safe and healthy mother and baby. Minister of State, Hon. Krystal Lee, said the outreach is part of ongoing efforts to engage pregnant and lactating...

Public health services across Westmoreland continue to operate through a combination of health-centre services, outreach clinics and international partnerships, despite extensive damage caused by Hurricane Melissa. Medical Officer of Health for the parish, Dr. Marcia Graham, said the situation remains fluid as authorities prioritise safety for both patients and staff. “We cannot offer healthcare in an unsafe environment,” she said,...

Warning signs are being erected near rivers and streams across Westmoreland as part of an intensified public education drive by the Westmoreland Health Department to reduce the risk of leptospirosis and diarrhoeal diseases, particularly in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. Health Promotion and Education Officer for Westmoreland, Gerald Miller, told JIS News that the signage targets popular water bodies where...

The Westmoreland Public Health Department has been implementing corrective measures to safeguard food safety and sanitation standards across the parish, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa. Chief Public Health Inspector for Westmoreland, Steve Morris, who was addressing the monthly meeting of the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation in Savanna-la-Mar on December 11, indicated that inspections were carried out to identify risks and...

Jamaica's push towards a fully digitised healthcare system received a major boost, with the handover of US$1.3 million worth of equipment to support the country's Electronic Immunisation Registry (EIR). Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, was on hand to receive the equipment, during a handover ceremony held at the St. Ann Health Department in St. Ann...