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Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, Professor Horace Fletcher, speaking at a technical update meeting on Zika, Guillain-Barre syndrome and Microcephaly, at the Mona campus on March 17. The function was organised by the Ministry of Health, the Pan American Health Organization and UWI.
Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, Professor Horace Fletcher, speaking at a technical update meeting on Zika, Guillain-Barre syndrome and Microcephaly, at the Mona campus on March 17. The function was organised by the Ministry of Health, the Pan American Health Organization and UWI.

Poor Waste Disposal Habits Linked to Diseases

University of the West Indies (UWI) Professor Horace Fletcher is imploring Jamaicans to practice proper waste disposal habits in order to guard against diseases such as Zika, Dengue, Leptospirosis, Malaria, and Chikungunya. He said there is a strong link between...
Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (2nd left), addresses press briefing on the Zika Virus, at the Ministry of Health, on March 18. The Minister noted the samples are now being tested at the Virology lab at the University of the West Indies, Mona. Others (from left) are: Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Winston Delahaye; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Kevin Harvey and World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization representative to Jamaica, Dr. Noreen Jack.
Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (2nd left), addresses press briefing on the Zika Virus, at the Ministry of Health, on March 18. The Minister noted the samples are now being tested at the Virology lab at the University of the West Indies, Mona. Others (from left) are: Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Winston Delahaye; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Kevin Harvey and World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization representative to Jamaica, Dr. Noreen Jack.

Virology Lab Yielding Results
Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton (2nd left), addresses a press conference at the Ministry’s New Kingston offices on Friday (March 18) to provide an update on the national Zika response. Others (from left) are: Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Winston De La Haye; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Kevin Harvey; and PAHO/WHO Representative for Jamaica, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, Dr. Noreen Jack.
Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton (2nd left), addresses a press conference at the Ministry’s New Kingston offices on Friday (March 18) to provide an update on the national Zika response. Others (from left) are: Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Winston De La Haye; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Kevin Harvey; and PAHO/WHO Representative for Jamaica, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, Dr. Noreen Jack.

Health Ministry Ramps Up Zika Response
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Winston De la Haye.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Winston De la Haye.

Tamiflu to Be Available at All Pharmacies
Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (left), converses with Minister of Labour and Social Security Hon. Shahine Robinson, during the launch of the ‘Operation Mosquito Search and Destroy’ clean-up campaign at the Ocean Village Shopping Centre in Ocho Rios on March 12.
Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (left), converses with Minister of Labour and Social Security Hon. Shahine Robinson, during the launch of the ‘Operation Mosquito Search and Destroy’ clean-up campaign at the Ocean Village Shopping Centre in Ocho Rios on March 12.

Dr. Tufton Calls for Cooperation in Eradicating Mosquitoes

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Health & Wellness

Take Action to Rid Surroundings of Mosquitoes – Dr. Tufton

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, is imploring Jamaicans to take action to rid their surroundings of breeding sites for the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits the Zika virus. “Too often, unfortunately, we assist in providing very fertile breeding ground for this mosquito. This means that we all have to take action,” he said. “Anything that creates the environment for...
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Health & Wellness

Steps Being Taken to Address Shortage of Nurses

Minister of Health, Dr. Christopher Tufton says the Ministry is aware and is taking steps to ease the current shortage of specialist nurses in public health sector. The renewed concern comes in light of a local recruitment drive for specialist nurses for overseas employment. Dr. Tufton points out that this happens from time to time as Jamaican nurses, particularly specialist...
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Minister of Health, Dr. Christopher Tufton greets health worker during Operation: Mosquito Search and Destroy cleanup campaign in Mansfield, Ocho Rios, St. Ann on Saturday, March 12, 2016.
Health & Wellness

Health Minister Urges Partnership to Combat Vector-Borne Diseases

Minister of Health, Dr. Christopher Tufton encouraged citizens to get involved in the interest of protecting their communities from vector-borne illnesses such as Zika, Dengue and Chikungunya during the Operation Mosquito Search and Destroy cleanup campaign that was held in St. Ann. Minister Tufton was speaking at the launch ceremony held on Saturday, March 12, 2016, at the Ocean Village...
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Minister of Health, Dr. Christopher Tufton (right) discusses the upgrade of the Virology Lab at the University during a tour of the Microbiology Lab with (L-R) Dr, Carl Bruce, Senior Director, University Hospital of the West Indies, Lecturer, Nicole Christian, University of the West Indies, Dr. Ivan Vickers and Dr. Winston De La Haye, Chief Medical Officer of Health. The Minister toured the facility on Friday, March 11, 2016.
Health & Wellness

The National Virology Laboratory in Jamaica is now equipped to test for Zika, Dengue and Chikungunya Viruses

The Clinical Virology Laboratory in the Department of Microbiology, University of the West Indies is now equipped for testing dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses after a ten (10) million dollar upgrade was done to the Laboratory. A state of the art real-time thermal equipment was acquired with the capacity to test 96 samples and controls within 2 hours.  This machine...
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Minister of Health, the Honourable Dr. Christopher Tufton and U.S Ambassador H.E Luis G. Moreno
Health & Wellness

U.S. Ambassador Makes Courtesy Call on Dr. Christopher Tufton

United States Ambassador to Jamaica His Excellency Luis G. Moreno paid a courtesy call on Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton today at the Ministry of Health to discuss further strengthening collaborations with Jamaica and the United States. Ambassador Moreno said “the United States is one of the closest collaborators with Jamaica and there is great value in the partnerships between...
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Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (2nd left), is shown a sample in viral transport media by Chief Medical Lab Technician, National Virology Reference Laboratory, Evan Edwards (seated right). This is a chemical composition in liquid form that sustains a virus for testing. The Minister was on a tour of the newly upgraded lab housed at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) on (March 11). Others (from left) are: Medical Chief of Staff, UHWI, Dr. Carl Bruce; Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/ World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Jamaica, Dr. Noreen Jack; and Head of the Microbiology Department, UHWI, Dr. Allison Nicholson.
Health & Wellness

Jamaica Fully Equipped to Test For Zika

Jamaica no longer has to send samples overseas to test for suspected cases of the Zika Virus (ZikV). This, as the National Virology Reference Laboratory, housed at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), is now fully equipped to test for viral infections. This follows upgrading work undertaken at a cost of $10 million. The improvements have also provided...
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