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...

Scores of healthcare workers from across the western region gathered in Montego Bay, St. James, to access critical support services at the Western Regional Health Authority’s (WRHA) Healthcare Workers’ Support Fair, held at the Pier 1 complex on Friday (January 9). The event brought together key public and private sector partners to provide free services in financial literacy, psychosocial well-being,...

The St. James Health Department, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, has officially launched a $50 million Integrated Vector Control Programme aimed at reducing vector-borne diseases in high-risk communities across the parish. The project features a two-component strategic approach: a Breteau Index reduction, which lowers the number of mosquito breeding sites per 100 houses, and a robust...

The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) and the Ministry of Health and Wellness have reaffirmed their readiness to respond effectively in the event of a major earthquake. Speaking during a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’, JFB Public Education Officer, Superintendent Emeleo Ebanks, noted that the Brigade has enhanced its rescue capabilities through specialised training and sustained investment in modern...

Health personnel at the St. Elizabeth Health Department are on top of efforts to prevent the spread of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases as the parish's Aedes index climbs to 10 per cent. Medical Expert at the St. Elizabeth Health Department, Dr. Carol Hamilton, said the index is up from six per cent before Hurricane Melissa swept through the parish...

A comprehensive rodent control programme is to be implemented across several communities in Westmoreland as public health officials intensify efforts to reduce environmental risks and improve sanitation standards. The initiative, which will be carried out by the Westmoreland Public Health Department, will target communities such as Negril, Grange Hill, Savanna-la-Mar, Petersfield, Whitehouse, Darliston and Bethel Town. Chief Public Health Inspector...