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Health Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (right), speaking at a recent press briefing to give an update on the dengue fever virus at the Ministry’s corporate offices in New Kingston. Also pictured is Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dunstan Bryan.

Coordinated Response to Dengue Fever

The Ministry of Health is collaborating with several ministries and agencies to coordinate its response to the dengue fever virus. Portfolio Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, said that all the resources of the Ministry have been activated to combat...

He informed that construction is to commence soon on the drop-in centre for the Corporate Area, which has the highest number of persons living on the streets. That centre is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.

Local Government Ministry and NHT Sign MOU to Upgrade Infirmaries

Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, examines a container during a tour of the Aldyar community in Westmoreland, on Friday ( January 4), in search of mosquito breeding sites.

Westmoreland to Get Additional Vector Control Workers

Health Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, addresses a press briefing to give an update on the dengue fever virus, held on January 3 at the Ministry in New Kingston. Dengue fever is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, and symptoms include sudden onset of high fever with severe headache, fatigue, pain behind the eyes, muscle, bone or joint pain, skin rash and vomiting or feeling nauseous.

Persons Must Consult Doctor if They Experience Dengue-Related Symptoms

Health Minister, Dr the Hon Christopher Tufton (second right), fields questions during a press briefing at the Ministry’s New Kingston offices on January 3, where he confirmed that the dengue virus surpassed the epidemic threshold for December. Listening (from left) are Director of Health Promotion and Protection in the Ministry, Dr. Simone Spence (left); Permanent Secretary, Dunstan Bryan; and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jacqueline Bisasor-McKenzie.

Health Ministry Allocates Additional $250 Million to Contain Dengue

Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (second right), displays the new zero-sugar drink developed by Coldfield Manufacturing Limited (Big Jo), at the launch held at the Clan Carthy Primary School in St. Andrew on Thursday (January 3). Others (from left) are Principal of the school, Sheldon Richards; Member of Parliament for South East St. Andrew, Julian Robinson; Chairman of the company, Ian Wong; Managing Director, Brett Wong; and Chairman of the school Board, Donald Foster.

7 years ago Health & Wellness

Drink Manufacturers Urged to Speed Up Process to Reduce Sugar Content

Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, is imploring drink manufacturers to speed up the process of reducing the sugar content in their products. He said that the move is a critical part of the national effort to reduce non-communicable diseases (NCD). The Minister was addressing the launch of Coldfield Manufacturing Limited’s (Big Jo) zero-sugar drinks, at the Clan...

7 years ago Health & Wellness

Vector Control Programme Extended in Westmoreland

The vector control initiative at the Westmoreland Health Department, being undertaken through the Housing, Opportunity, Production and Employment (HOPE) programme, has been extended to eradicate more mosquito breeding sites in the parish. Vector Control Officer at the Westmoreland Health Department, Ryan Morris, informed JIS News that a 12-week extension has been granted, “because we have seen a decrease in the...

Medical Chief of Staff at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), Dr. Carl Bruce (third left), explains the hospital’s plans to use technology to improve patient care, to members of the Rotary Club of St. Andrew North, recently. Listening (from left) are President, Lori Chuck; Past President, Glenroy Williams (second left); Head of the UHWI Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department, Dr. Simone Ffrench; former Head of the A&E Department, Dr. Jean Johnson; and Past President of the Club, Wayne Wray. Members of the club handed over a donation of US$3,000 towards upgrading the audiovisual equipment in the A&E department’s training area.

7 years ago Health & Wellness

UHWI Working on Project to Assist Persons in Rural Areas

The University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) is working on a project to facilitate remote access to its health system by persons in rural areas, using telemedicine consultation. This was disclosed by Medical Chief of Staff at UHWI, Dr. Carl Bruce, at a recent ceremony for the presentation of funds to the hospital’s Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department by...

Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (2nd right) is assisted by Councillor, Gregory Park Division, Joy Brown (right) to place a cover on a drum for a resident of the Gregory Park community in St. Catherine on Friday (December 28). At left is Larvicidal Worker with the Ministry of Health, Robert Plummer.

7 years ago Health & Wellness

Health Minister Tours Gregory Park Community

Health Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton and other officials toured sections of the Gregory Park Community in Portmore, St. Catherine, which is being targeted as part of increased vector control and surveillance initiatives. The Ministry is reporting that the community has a high population of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is the vector for dengue. During the tour on...

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton

7 years ago Health & Wellness

Health Ministry’s ‘Jamaica Moves’ Initiative Gets SDA Church’s Approval

The Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church in Jamaica is throwing its support behind the Health Ministry’s ‘Jamaica Moves’ programme, and will formally endorse the initiative on January 8, 2019. According to President of the Jamaica Union Conference of SDAs, Pastor Everett Brown, the church’s mission is to use its resources to help persons spiritually, and to do so in “whatever...

Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon Christopher Tufton (left), along with Cuban Ambassador to Jamaica, Her Excellency Inés Fors Fernández, affix their signatures to copies of an extended technical cooperation agreement, during a signing ceremony at the Ministry’s New Kingston offices on Thursday (December 20). Overseeing the proceedings is Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dunstan Bryan. The agreement will see more Jamaicans benefiting from eye care services provided by Cuban health professionals.

7 years ago Health & Wellness

Jamaica and Cuba Sign Agreement to Extend Eye Care Programme

Jamaicans will continue to benefit from eye care services provided by Cuban health professionals for another six months. This is being facilitated under an extended technical cooperation agreement between the Governments of Jamaica and Cuba. Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon Christopher Tufton, and Cuba’s Ambassador to Jamaica, Her Excellency Inés Fors Fernández, on Thursday (December 20), signed the documents...

Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, Minister of Health and Wellness.

7 years ago Health & Wellness

Sugary Drink Restriction Policy in Schools will be Closely Monitored

Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says measures will be put in place to monitor and enforce the implementation of the policy aimed at restricting the consumption of sweetened beverages in public educational institutions. “We have a system in place to do so. Right now, we have over 100 nutritionists and dieticians within the public health system across...