Having confirmed Jamaica’s first imported case of the Chikungunya virus, the Ministry of Health has further heightened its response to prevent the disease from spreading across the country. “Public education is being stepped up right across the island through our vast network of healthcare workers,” stated the Ministry’s Director of Emergency Disaster Management and Special Services, Dr. Marion Bullock DuCasse,...

The Savanna-la-Mar General Hospital in Westmoreland is, this year, celebrating its Golden Jubilee under the theme: ‘50 Years and Beyond – Offering Quality Healthcare for All’. Activities to commemorate this milestone get underway on Sunday, July 20, with a thanksgiving service at the Savanna-la-Mar United Church, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The celebrations continue on Thursday, July 24, with a special...

In another 19 months, six health facilities across the island will be able to generate energy from the upgrading of their sewerage system through anaerobic technology developed by the Scientific Research Council (SRC), and funded with a $389 million grant from the National Health Fund (NHF). The anaerobic technology, which is patented by the SRC, protects the environment because of...

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Kevin Harvey is confirming that Jamaica now has its first imported case of chikungunya. This following the receipt of a report from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) this morning confirming that the sample sent on Tuesday is indeed positive for the chikungunya virus. Dr. Harvey had previously explained that the case is of an individual who...

The Ministry of Health’s heightened surveillance system has detected a suspected imported case of the chikungunya virus. Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Kevin Harvey says the case is of an individual who travelled from an affected country and fell ill. The individual had screening tests done at a private laboratory in Jamaica which indicated the illness. A sample was taken and...

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, says the Government continues to make progress toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for all Jamaicans. “The quest to provide quality and affordable health care services and improve access is on in earnest and we will continue to develop the health sector so that our population can achieve the highest level of health...

The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the University of the West Indies (UWI) Department of Medicine Pulmonary Research Group, has begun the pilot of a $20-million project, aimed at determining the prevalence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). In an interview with JIS News, Principal Investigator in the research group, Dr. Althea Aquart-Stewart, said that the pilot for the...