The cardiac centre at the Bustamante Hospital for Children, in Kingston, will be opened in April 2016. This was disclosed by Minister of Health, Hon. Horace Dalley, prior to breaking ground for a new state-of-the-art cancer treatment centre at the St. Joseph’s Hospital, in Kingston, on February 4. “Children are dying because we don’t have enough space, we don’t have...

Psychiatrist, Dr. Winston De La Haye, is the country’s Acting Chief Medical Officer (CMO), replacing Dr. Marion Bullock DuCasse, who has retired. This was disclosed by Minister of Health, Hon. Horace Dalley, during a press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister, in Kingston, on February 2. A former Medical Association of Jamaica President, Dr. De La Haye chairs...

Beginning this week, several of the nation’s major gullies and drains will be cleaned, as the Government heightens activities to eradicate possible mosquito breeding sites. The clean-up activities, which will cost $200 million, are being carried out by the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, through the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP) Secretariat. This was disclosed by Minister of Health, Hon. Horace...

The Ministry of Health has heightened its fever and rash surveillance system, as part of measures to monitor suspected cases of the Zika Virus (ZikV). ZikV is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is found in and around areas where people live, work and play. “The islandwide enhanced surveillance system is in place to monitor all fever and rash cases, neurological...

Representatives of the island’s 14 local authorities are reporting that extensive works have been undertaken at the community level in preparation for the Zika virus (ZikV). These include drain and gully cleaning, bushing, training, mobilisation of health information officers, distribution of nets to cover water drums, and public education through town hall meetings, distribution of flyers, and town criers. They...

Eye care service delivery at the Mandeville Regional Hospital, in Manchester, has been strengthened, with the opening of an ophthalmology clinic and operating theatre. The new facility, which was officially opened by Health Minister, Hon. Horace Dalley, on January 28, was funded at accost of  more than $80 million, provided by the European Union (EU) and Scotiabank, among other stakeholders....

Citizens are again being urged to rid their surroundings of mosquito breeding sites to prevent the spread of the Zika Virus (Zik V) in the country. This call comes from Principal Medical Officer and Director of Emergency, Disaster Management and Special Services at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Melody Ennis. “The onus is on each and every one of us...