Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, has called on all citizens to join in the fight against the spread of the Zika virus, by ridding their surroundings of breeding sites for mosquitoes. He noted that while the Government is committed to combating the disease, “it is in our interest that we observe all the notices and...

The Government has earmarked $50 million to establish a fund to provide support for families of babies born with Zika-related microcephaly. In an interview with JIS News, Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton said that the fund will be used to support interventions to assist families to cope with the condition. “This will involve preparedness of high-risk clinics...

Parents and guardians are being urged to pay close attention to small children in order to identify any abnormality, which could be a sign of childhood cancer. Speaking at a JIS Think Tank on Wednesday (September 7), Paediatric Haematologist/Oncologist at the Bustamante Hospital for Children, Dr. Sharon McLean-Salmon, explained that childhood cancers are most commonly seen among the three to...

With the school year already in progress, the Ministry of Health is encouraging all parents to ensure that their children are adequately vaccinated for their age. Under Jamaica’s Public Health Act of 1974 and The Public Health (Immunization) Regulations of 1986, all children under the age of seven must be immunised before entry into school. Schools under the regulation include...

The administrative functions of the Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ) have been bolstered through the presentation of computers by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness. The two laptop and four desktop computers were accepted by NAJ President, Janet Coore-Farr, and members of the association, during a brief ceremony held at the Office of the Prime Minister last afternoon (September 5)....

The National Health Fund (NHF) has been tasked with the responsibility of developing a National Health Insurance Scheme to fund the public healthcare system. NHF Chairman, Christopher Zacca, made the disclosure at a recent JIS Think Tank at the agency’s head office in Kingston. He said that the mandate was given by Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton....

Public-sector medical consultants have signed a Heads of Agreement with the Government for the 2015/2017 contract period. Under the two-year wage agreement, they will receive a four per cent salary increase for year one and three per cent in year two. The contract was signed today (September 2), at the Finance and the Public Service Ministry in Kingston. The agreement...