The South East Regional Authority (SERHA) is closely monitoring cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth disease that have been found in at least three schools in Kingston and St. Andrew and six schools in St. Catherine. The Health Departments in the respective parishes have been working closely with the schools to minimise the spread of the disease. The schools have...

Employers are being encouraged to be as accommodating as possible in the workplace in assisting lactating mothers who have returned to work, so they can sustain breastfeeding for at least six months, so that their babies can be adequately nourished. In an interview with JIS News, Director of Nutrition in the Ministry of Health, Sharmaine Edwards, explained that the Ministry...

Thousands of residents of Rowlandsfield and surrounding districts in St. Thomas now have access to improved healthcare delivery following the upgrading of the community health centre at a cost of $13.9 million. The project entailed expansion of floor space and waiting area; putting in additional patient rooms; roofing and tiling works; installation of a water storage facility; providing wheelchair access;...

Renovation and expansion works totalling over $100 million is being undertaken at the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department at the Linstead Hospital, in St. Catherine. Of the sum, $76.4 million will be spent to renovate and expand specific areas, while the remainder of the funds will go toward equipping and installing a heating ventilation and air conditioning system in the...

The Government continues work to strengthen the country’s cancer care system through strategic partnerships with international entities. On August 26 of this year, the Government signed a contract with global leader in diagnostic and pharmaceutical products, Roche, to market Herceptin Subcutaneous (SC), an agent commonly used in the treatment of early stage Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (HER) 2 Positive...

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Health Fund (NHF), Everton Anderson, has lauded members of staff for their unwavering commitment to the entity’s customers. He said it is the outstanding display of service excellence on the part of workers that has resulted in the Fund being shortlisted in three categories in the Public Sector Customer Service (PSCS) Competition of...

The operations of hospitals and health centres have returned to normal as nurses attendance levels are now regularised. Since Tuesday (September 15, 2015) there has been a high level of absenteeism by Registered Nurses resulting in the Ministry opening the Emergency Operations Centre and activating its emergency protocol and some hospitals operating in emergency mode. Minister of Health, Dr. Fenton...