Infrastructural improvements were carried out on several hospitals across the country during the year, at a cost of more than $375 million, Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, has informed. These include St. Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital, in St. Ann; Annotto Bay Hospital, St. Mary; Princess Margaret Hospital, St. Thomas; Black River Hospital, St. Elizabeth; Mandeville Regional Hospital, Manchester; Bustamante...

Plans are underway to transform the Bath community in St. Thomas into a ‘Wellness Zone’, incorporating its botanical gardens and mineral spring. This was announced by Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, during his contribution to the 2013/14 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, on Tuesday, June 25. “The development of the Sports and Fitness Park at the...

Senior citizens are being urged to limit the consumption of salt in order to prevent and control hypertension or high blood pressure. The advice came from Consultant Cardiologist at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), Dr. Victor Elliott, as he addressed the 8th staging of the Annual Men’s Health Day Seminar yesterday (June 20), at the St. Andrew...

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, has announced the setting up of an Advisory Body on Diaspora affairs, to work on the streamlining of medical missions to Jamaica; and the appointment of Liaison Officers at all public hospitals. Speaking at a session on Health at the just concluded 5th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference, held at the Montego Bay Convention...

The National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC) will be staging its 8th Regional Men’s Health Day Seminar on Thursday, June 20, at the St. Andrew Parish Church Hall, 16 Ellesmere Road, in Kingston. The event, which gets underway at 10:00 a.m., will focus on hypertension, its possible causes, preventive measures, coping mechanisms and family life. Programme Organizer for Health at...

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, says he will be seeking the assistance of local and international partners, including the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), in the effort to reduce tobacco use in Jamaica. The Government is working to put in place a Tobacco Control Act, which will protect citizens from the harmful effects of tobacco smoking, by prohibiting...

A draft national policy on blood transfusion and protocols for blood collection is currently being prepared for submission to Cabinet. This was disclosed by Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, as he addressed the official launch of World Blood Donor Day 2013 at Emancipation Park in Kingston yesterday (June 14). The policy is part of a national strategy to ensure...

Jamaica joins the rest of the world in observing World Blood Donor Day (WBDD), Friday, June 14, under the theme:‘Give the gift of life: donate blood’. Speaking at a recent JIS ‘Think Tank’, Director of the National Blood Transfusion Service, Dr. Angella Scott, said the aim of this year’s observance is to raise awareness of the need for safe blood....