Two hundred Jamaicans suffering from poor vision or blindness due to cataract disease are to benefit from free corrective surgery performed by Chinese ophthalmologists. Dubbed the ‘Bright Journey’ mission, the ophthalmology team, comprising six medical doctors and two nurses, will be performing the procedures from May 18 to 29 at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH). They will also be providing...

Following meetings at the World Health Assembly now taking place in Geneva, Switzerland and subsequent to a warning issued by the Pan American Health Organization regarding an outbreak of the Zika virus in Brazil and the potential of the virus to spread to other countries, Permanent Secretary, Dr. Kevin Harvey is urging persons to take the necessary precautions to rid...

In its continued thrust to improve health facilities across the island, the Ministry of Health has signed a contract valued at $21.6 million for the renovation of the administrative building at Linstead Hospital, in St. Catherine. The contract, which was signed today (May 12) with the firm, Black Brothers Incorporated Limited, will result in extensive refurbishing activities. For the initial...

The Registrar General’s Department (RGD) is encouraging Jamaicans at home and abroad to take advantage of its genealogy research facility, which is aimed at encouraging persons to trace the origins of their family history. The RGD has been conducting genealogy research through its Island Records Office since 1999 and has carried out over 2,000 researches since that time. The Island...

The Ministry of Health has been praised for its role in coordinating the eight-day visit to Jamaica by the United States Naval Hospital Ship Comfort, from May 6 to 13. This commendation has come from Officer in charge of the Comfort’s medical site located at the National Arena, Captain Andrew Nelson. The vessel’s visit forms part of a six-month humanitarian...

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, is assuring health workers whose salary deductions have not be paid over to the relevant companies that the situation will be rectified. Speaking at a Jamaica House press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister, today (May 6), Dr. Ferguson said the Regional Health Authorities (RHA) have given a commitment to ensure...

The Government is investing US$14.5 million in the setting up of two cancer treatment centres, which will be equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, to deliver the most advanced cancer care to Jamaicans. Funding for the undertaking involves a partnership between the National Health Fund (NHF) and the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund, as well as the generous contributions...