The Government will shortly roll out an integrated vector control programme to prevent the Zika virus from reaching the shores of Jamaica, and to step up a public education campaign on the disease. The virus, which has caused a recent health scare in the South American country of Brazil, is spread by the bite of an infected Aedes Aegypti mosquito....

A section of the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) was transformed into a much needed green space on Labour Day. The work, which included planting of grass, flowers and trees, and installing seating, was undertaken by the Friends of KPH in collaboration with the Kingston Chapter of the Lay Magistrates Association, the Kiwanis Club of New Kingston, and MPM Waste Management...

Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Marion Bullock DuCasse is re-iterating the need for individuals to destroy mosquito breeding sites especially given the recent drought conditions and current rainfall being experienced islandwide as mosquitoes are known to spread diseases including Zika virus infection. Dr. DuCasse says it has been proven scientifically that mosquitoes can transmit several viruses which cause diseases including...

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...