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Ebola Key Facts and Answers

The following is a fact sheet regarding Ebola, formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever. There are no reported cases of the Ebola virus in Jamaica at this time. The Ministry of Health has ultimate oversight for the surveillance and response strategies to any...

Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) personnel utilize heavy-duty vehicles in the clearing of a gully in West Kingston on October 30. The work forms part of the national health emergency vector control clean-up campaign aimed at destroying mosquito breeding sites.

Major CHIKV Clean-Up in West Kingston

President, Medical Association of Jamaica, Dr. Shane Alexis (left), along with Advisor, Disease Prevention and Control, Pan American Health Organisation, Dr. Kam Suan Mung and Acting Director, Emergency, Disaster Preparedness and Special Services, Ministry of Health, Dr. Sonia Copeland, engage in a light conversation at the media sensitization forum on Ebola, held on October 30 at the Pan American Health Organisation offices at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus.

Ministry Aims to Train 1,000 Health Care Workers for Ebola Response

Senior Public Health Nurse, Jennifer Pearson (2nd right), tests Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson (left), with one of the hand-held thermal sensors that he handed over at the Sangster International Airport on October 29, while on a tour of the facility with a team from the Western Regional Health Authority. The Minister presented two sensors to the airport as part of the Ebola preparedness campaign. Others (from second left) are: Deputy Chairman of the Western Regional Health Authority, Calvin Brown; Port Health and Quarantine officer, Oniel Brown; Regional Technical Director, Dr. Dianne Campbell Stennett and Medical Officer of Health for St James, Dr. Marcia Johnson Campbell.

Health Personnel to be Increased at Sangster Airport

Coordinator for the Greater Involvement of Persons Living with HIV and AIDS (GIPA) at the National Family Planning Board (NFPB), Ainsley Reid, addresses a JIS Think Tank on October 29.

NFPB Celebrating Family Week

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A member of staff of the Cornwall Regional Hospital displays one of several Hazmat suits, which the hospital has acquired, as it prepares for the threat of the Ebola virus.

11 years ago Health & Wellness

Health Minister Pleased With Ebola Preparedness at Cornwall Regional

Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, is expressing satisfaction with the level of preparedness at the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) for the detection, isolation and treatment of any suspected cases of the Ebola virus. The Minister was speaking on Wednesday, October 29, following a tour of an area, which is being converted into a temporary isolation unit, and viewed the...

Health Minister, Dr. the Hon. Fenton Ferguson (left), addresses the media following a tour of the Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay on Wednesday (October 29). During the tour, the Minister looked at temporary isolation facilities for suspected Ebola cases, as well as a triage area being built to ease overcrowding at the Accident and Emergency Unit. Listening keenly is Chairman of the hospital’s Ebola preparedness committee, Dr. Barbara Grandison.

11 years ago Health & Wellness

Only Major Hospitals Will Treat Ebola Cases – Dr. Ferguson

Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, said that only the major hospitals such as Cornwall Regional and Kingston Public will undertake the treatment of any suspected Ebola cases in Jamaica. He said isolation facilities at the other health facilities will only be used for “holding purposes”. “The whole idea is that the other hospitals…all of them should have an isolation...

11 years ago Health & Wellness

Jamaica Gets Assistance from Cuba to Boost CHIK-V Response

Jamaica is to receive assistance from Cuba in strengthening the country’s Chikungunya Virus (Chik-V) response programme. Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, has informed that a Cuban technical expert is slated to arrive in November, to provide assistance in dealing with Chik-V and Dengue Fever, which are spread by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito. He made the announcement while outlining details...

Registrar, Pesticides Control Authority, Mr. Michael Ramsay, warns that the overuse of insecticides can lead to serious health complications.

11 years ago Health & Wellness

Persons Urged to Exercise Caution When Using Insecticides

The Pesticides Control Authority (PCA) is urging persons to exercise caution when using insecticides to get rid of vectors, including mosquitoes, as efforts continue to control the spread of the Chikungunya Virus. In an interview with JIS News, Registrar of the Pesticides Control Authority, Michael Ramsay, said that while insecticides are effective in getting rid of unwanted pests, overuse can lead...

Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson (centre), addressing journalists during a media briefing at the Ministry’s downtown Kingston office on Tuesday (October 28), where he outlined details of the four-day visit to Cuba, from October 23 to 26, by an 11-member delegation which he led. He held discussions with that country’s government regarding assistance for Jamaica’s Ebola preparedness and response programme. Flanking him are Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Rocky Meade, who was a member of the delegation; and Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Kevin Harvey.

11 years ago Health & Wellness

Two Cuban Ebola Experts Coming To Train Health Care Workers

Two experts are to arrive in the island from Cuba next week, to assist with the training of health care workers and other designated Ebola frontline responders. This will form part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize Cuba’s commitment to provide technical assistance to strengthen Jamaica’s Ebola preparedness and response, which is to be established between the governments...

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson (right), converses with educator and breast cancer survivor, Jennifer Fearon Rodney, at the recent launch of the National Health Fund (NHF) breast cancer support programme.

11 years ago Health & Wellness

Government Subsidy for Critical Breast Cancer Test Welcomed

The recent subsidy of almost $5,000 provided by the Government for an important test for breast cancer patients, has received the endorsement of the medical community, as well as the Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS). Under the initiative, the National Health Fund (NHF) has extended its individual benefits portfolio to include support of $4,800 for the Breast Cancer Receptor Studies test...

Registrar, Pesticides Control Authority, Mr. Michael Ramsay, warns that the overuse of insecticides can lead to serious health complications.

11 years ago Health & Wellness

Persons Urged to Exercise Caution When Using Insecticides

The Pesticides Control Authority (PCA) is urging persons to exercise caution when using insecticides to get rid of vectors, including mosquitoes, as efforts continue to control the spread of the Chikungunya Virus. In an interview with JIS News, Registrar of the Pesticides Control Authority, Mr. Michael Ramsay, said that while insecticides are effective in getting rid of unwanted pests, overuse...