The Government is taking action to reduce the misery level of patients who utilize public health services. Speaking at a JIS ‘Think Tank’ on Wednesday, May 27, Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, disclosed that strategies are being put in place to improve the client experience in all public health facilities. “I have instructed the Chairmen of the four...

Over 1,000 health care workers attached to primary and secondary health centres and hospitals islandwide, are to receive training over the next six months, under a special Ministry of Health programme, to strengthen their capacity to deliver maternal and child health care. The training exercise, to be delivered under the Ministry’s four-year $2.8 billion (€22 million) European Union (EU)-funded Programme...

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...