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MONTEGO BAY - The delivery of health care at the Black River Hospital, in St. Elizabeth,  got a well needed boost on Friday, April 19,  with the official opening of a new  maternity ward. A building on the premises was converted and refurbished by the National Health Fund (NHF) at a cost of approximately $15 million, and this resulted in...

The Ministry of Health will be staging 13 parenting workshops across the island to raise awareness of the process of immunization and its importance, during Vaccination Week 2013 from Sunday, April 21 to Saturday, April 28. The week is being observed by the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Early Childhood Commission (ECC), under the theme: 'Vaccination: A Shared...

Cabinet has approved the award of contracts totalling some $846 million to implement sewage treatment solutions at 14 health facilities across the island, and provide portering, and cleaning services at the Kingston Public and Victoria Jubilee Hospitals. The sewage treatment contract of $420 million has been awarded to the Scientific Research Council (SRC). Making the announcement at the Jamaica House...

Approximately $94 billion has been reserved in the budget for social safety net programmes, the provision of housing, jobs and training, and initiatives to assist vulnerable communities. This was disclosed by Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips,as he opened the 2013/14 Budget Debate on Friday, April 18, in the House of Representatives under the theme ‘Restoring...

The Ministry of Health is to remove from the market, the four brands of toilet tissue found to be contaminated. At the Jamaica House press briefing held at the Office of the Prime Minister on Wednesday, April 17, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Jean Dixon and Chairman of the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ), Dr. Winston Davidson, outlined details...

The May Pen Hospital is slated to undergo a multi-million dollar upgrading and rehabilitation project this fiscal year. This was disclosed by Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson on Friday, April 12, following a tour of the Clarendon-based facility. Dr. Fergsuon said the project is estimated to cost between $96 million and $100 million, with approximately $64 million of the...

Parents are being urged to examine their children’s responsiveness and behaviour during the early stages of development in an effort to identify and treat any disorders, including autism. The advice, from Professor of Child Health, Child Development and Behaviour at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Professor Maureen Samms Vaughan, comes as Jamaica joins the world in marking World...

The Ministry of Health is moving to make it easier for overseas partners to make donations of equipment and services to the health sector, and that these contributions go to the areas of greatest need. “The Ministry is now in the process of revising the gift policy and procedures and guidelines, to make it easier for us to receive, track...

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, is lauding the invaluable contribution of charitable organisations and missions to the health sector, which he says, saves the Government millions in expenditure annually According to Dr. Ferguson, there are close to 200 voluntary missions to Jamaica each year, offering services in various general care areas. He informed that in 2012, approximately 172...

During the past year, 17 ambulances were purchased at a cost of US$884,323 for distribution across all health regions, Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, has informed. Making the announcement during his contribution to the 2013/14 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on June 25, Dr. Ferguson said delivery of these units is expected to begin by the end...

The Government has allocated $34 million to continue its social intervention programmes, geared towards improving the lives of persons with disabilities (PWDs). This is outlined in the 2013/14 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The project, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, aims to strengthen the capacity of the Jamaica Council...

The Ministry of Health has put contingency measures in place to ensure the effective delivery to care at public hospitals, as doctors continue their industrial action. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson told the House of Representatives on Thursday, April 4, that activities at public hospitals have been scaled down to emergency services only. “There is no elective surgery that...