President of the Jamaica Association for Public Health Inspectors (JAPHI), Karen Brown, is cautioning citizens to be very careful when purchasing food. Ms. Brown was addressing a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’, held at the agency’s Montego Bay Regional Office in St. James, on Saturday (October 23). “We are aware that many persons are operating from home; [they are...

At least nine health departments across the island have begun house to house vaccination. Healthcare teams, including public health nurses and community health aides from Hanover, Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Trelawny, Westmoreland, St. Ann, St. Mary, Portland and St. Thomas have been deployed to communities across the island to administer the COVID-19 vaccines to shut-ins, disabled and the elderly. According to...

Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness has lauded healthcare workers for efforts to ensure safety of the public during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Speaking with a group of healthcare professionals at the James Hill Health Centre in Clarendon on Thursday (October 21), the Prime Minister said he is aware of the long hours they work as the country battles...

Senior Medical Officer at the Bustamante Hospital for Children Dr. Michelle-Ann Richards-Dawson (left), looks at medical items donated to the Hospital by Diaspora for Children Foundation at a hand over ceremony at the institution on Wednesday (October 20). Others pictured from left are: Director of Nursing Services, Beverley Senior-Berry (partially hidden), member of the Diaspora for Children Cadell Green, Administrator...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Zavia Mayne, is encouraging seniors and persons charged with their care to get vaccinated. “Regrettably, we continue to lose older persons to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and we mourn their loss… [but vaccination] is certainly the only way to get back to normal,” he said. The State Minister was...

The Hanover Municipal Corporation (HMC) honoured 20 of the parish’s front-line workers in health and social services, at a special pre-National Heroes Day, Heroes Award and Flag Raising Ceremony held at the HMC meeting chamber on Thursday (October 14). Some 13 healthcare workers from the Noel Holmes Hospital, the Hanover Health Department and seven of their associates at the Hanover...

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is looking to implement a new PCR-based multiplex protocol that allows member countries to simultaneously detect the coronavirus (COVID-19) and influenza infections from the same sample. Director, Dr. Carissa Etienne, said that the undertaking, being done in tandem with the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is intended to boost regional...