Medical Officer of Health for Westmoreland, Dr. Marcia Graham, has voiced concern over the escalating impact of violence on the parish’s healthcare system, cautioning that the preventable issue is placing a heavy strain on the services delivered to residents. She highlighted the issue recently while addressing the monthly meeting of the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation in Savanna-la-Mar, noting that incidents of...

The Port Maria Hospital in St. Mary has been recertified baby-friendly, joining 12 other facilities islandwide committed to promoting breastfeeding as the norm and optimising newborn care. The recertification was made official during a ceremony on the Hospital grounds on Friday (March 13). The hospital was first certified baby-friendly in 2019 and must be recertified every three years. The delay...

The National Health Fund (NHF) has added four new chronic conditions for financial support – heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and bladder cancer. This has brought the total number of conditions now covered to 28. Heart failure affects an estimated 117,500 Jamaicans and continues to drive increasing hospitalisations each year. By providing subsidies for...

Residents in Westmoreland are being encouraged to make greater use of primary healthcare services, as several initiatives are being implemented to improve access and reduce congestion at the hospital. Medical Officer of Health for the parish, Dr. Marcia Graham, made the appeal while addressing the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation meeting in Savanna-la-Mar on March 12. She pointed out that extended hours...

Residents of Westmoreland are being urged to embrace preventive health practices, such as colorectal cancer screening and healthier dietary choices, as part of ongoing efforts to lessen the parish’s burden of chronic diseases. Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Marcia Graham, made the call while addressing the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation’s monthly meeting in Savanna-la-Mar on March 12. She highlighted that March...

Residents of St. Thomas are being encouraged to take advantage of a health fair scheduled for Thursday (March 19) at the St. Thomas Teen Hub in Morant Bay. The initiative, being organised by the St. Thomas Health Department, forms part of ongoing efforts to sensitise the public about the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and reduce the risk of cervical cancer, with...

Health authorities in Portland are urging stakeholders to remain vigilant in the fight against leptospirosis and to step up efforts to reduce the parish’s rodent population. Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Sharon Lewis, reported during the Portland Municipal Corporation’s monthly meeting on March 12 that four suspected cases of leptospirosis were recently notified to the Portland Health Department – three...