The Ministry of Health is looking to implement a volunteerism policy for the country’s public hospitals. Portfolio Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, said the aim is to facilitate compassionate care for patients who may be recuperating from surgeries, or need to spend long periods at hospital. He said that volunteers, under the supervision of hospital staff, could perform services...

Permanent Secretary in the Health Ministry, Dr. Kevin Harvey, says the Ministry has committed an additional $100 million to fight the Zika virus (ZikV). He made the announcement at a press conference at the Ministry in New Kingston on June 2. The Permanent Secretary noted that the budget continues to change, based on the scope of work that the Ministry...

Despite heavy mid-afternoon showers in western and north-eastern parishes, scores of volunteers turned out on May 23 for Labour Day projects in the parishes of St. Ann and Trelawny. Activities were focused on the beautification of town centres and markets, painting of police stations and the cleaning of drains. In St. Ann, the parish project was the cleaning of the Alexandria...

The Ministry of Health will, in upcoming weeks, be launching a community leadership forum, to engage leaders of community-based organisations across the island to collaborate in the development of measures to fight vector-borne diseases. Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, made the disclosure in an interview with JIS News ahead of a ceremony to open the National Labour...

Representatives of the South African High Commission in Kingston volunteered their time and efforts to the National Labour Day project yesterday (May 23) in Portmore, St. Catherine. Work involved the cleaning of drains, gullies, the removal of bulky waste, trimming of trees, erection of signs in Gregory Park, Washington Mews and Christian Pen. The Gregory Park Basic School was also...

Residents of Majesty Gardens in Kingston came out to rehabilitate their community sanitary facility on Labour Day (May 23). The activity entailed replacing toilets, repair and painting works, and general clean-up and garbage removal. The exercise, organised by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), involved partnership with the Ministry of Health’s ‘Operation Mosquito Search and Destroy’ vector control campaign. It...

The Homestead Place of Safety in Stony Hill, St. Andrew, received a facelift as part of Labour Day activities yesterday (May 23). Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, joined representatives from the Child Development Agency (CDA) and Scotiabank Foundation in cleaning the dormitories, painting the building, cutting shrubs, and expanding a vegetable garden. Speaking...