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Jamaica’s capability to dispose of medical waste has been significantly boosted, with the official opening of the National Medical Waste Management Plant on November 29. The facility, located at 15-17 Drummond Street in downtown Kingston, was established at a cost of US$3 million. It is the island’s first state-of-the-art non-incineration automated medical waste plant and is expected to improve the...

The National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA) will be hosting its 2012 Drug Awareness Symposium on Tuesday, November 27, at the Morant Bay Anglican Church in St. Thomas.            The event, which is slated to begin at 10 a.m., forms part of the activities being held in commemoration of Drug Awareness Month (November), and is part of the NCDA’s thrust...

The Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ) supporting the Government’s move to review the abolition of user fees in the public health care system. The 2012/2013 LASCO/NAJ Nurse of the Year, Victoria Melhado, made the declaration at a public education forum staged by the NAJ on November 23, at Emancipation Park in New Kingston. Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, informed...

The Ambulatory Chemotherapy Unit at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) was officially opened on November 23, to provide enhanced care for cancer patients. The unit is the first of its kind for the downtown-based hospital and will improve treatment and diagnostic services for increased survival and recovery of persons suffering from cancer. A total of $6.5 million was spent to...

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, says the Ministry is seriously addressing the findings of an assessment of the national health information system, and is applying the attention and resources to secure improvements in a realistic and carefully planned manner.             He was speaking at the third annual National Health Research Conference at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New...

The Ministry of Health has established an Equipment Performance Taskforce (EPTF) to develop a framework for the optimal use of medical equipment, and to assist in standardising procurement. This was disclosed by Portfolio Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, during the official opening of the Ambulatory Chemotherapy Unit at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) today (November 23). He said the proposed...

Minister of State for Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Colin Fagan, says a sustained public education programme, targeted particularly at the youth, is critical in raising awareness of the adverse effects of smoking. “Statistics provided to me indicate a worrying trend that has shown that Jamaica is now having children as young as 10 years old addicted to smoking;...

The Jamaica Office of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) recognizes the efforts made by the Ministry of Health to protect the rights of local citizens to a tobacco free environment. Last week on National World Diabetes Day, Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, committed to bringing the Tobacco Control Act to Parliament early in the next...

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, has accepted a proposal that will see the Alexandria Community Hospital, in St. Ann, resuming full operation as a Primary Care Centre of Excellence. The proposal calls for a public/private sector partnership with the non-profit group, Mind, Body and Soul Health Ministry (MBS), which is headed by United States based Jamaican national, Dr....

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, says the Government will continue to take a collaborative approach to tackling non-communicable diseases (NCDs). To this end, he said the Ministry will be working with several other Ministries and agencies in ensuring that priority consideration is placed on developing policies that target the prevention and control of NCDs and their risk factors....

A female ward is to be constructed at the St. Ann's Bay Hospital, and the air conditioning unit is to be replaced at a cost of $10 million. This was announced by Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, who toured the institution on November 15, along with senior personnel from the Ministry. Dr. Ferguson told the staff and clients...

Acting Executive Director of the National Family Planning Board (NFPB), Dr. Sharlene Jarrett, says there has been a significant decline in the country’s fertility rate, due in part to the agency’s efforts to ensure that all Jamaicans have adequate access to family planning services. Citing the 2008 reproductive health survey conducted by the Board, Dr. Jarrett pointed out that in...