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Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, says the Government has committed some $50 million to upgrade and rehabilitate facilities at the Black River Hospital in St. Elizabeth. “We intend to do some specific activities; already we have spent over $7 million on the pediatric ward. For phase two of that ward, the sum of $6.5 million will be spent to...

Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, says Cabinet has approved an additional $111 million to continue the Ministry’s dengue eradication programme across the island. Speaking to journalists in Black River, St. Elizabeth, on Friday (Nov. 9), following a tour of health institutions in the parish, Dr. Ferguson informed that Cabinet has taken a decision to approve the sum which will...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) wishes to advise the public that the stationary front currently affecting the island has produced heavy rains resulting in flooding within the parish of St. Mary. The areas affected include: -Port Maria -Oracabessa -Sections of Junction in the vicinity of Georgia Emergency response agencies have been alerted and are currently reporting...

A pioneering treatment for high blood sugar and high blood pressure, created by a team from the University of the West Indies (UWI), has won the Minister’s Innovation Awards for 2012. The entry, titled: ‘A Novel Treatment Against Hyperglycemia and Hypertension,’ was adjudged as likely to be the most significant in its effect on the scientific and technological world. It...

The Ministry of Health is developing a strategic plan for the prevention and control of non- communicable diseases (NCDs). The plan, which is in draft stage, will also address risk factors for these chronic conditions. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, who made the disclosure on November 7 opening of the Faculty of Medical Sciences 21st Annual Research Conference and...

Director of Emergency Disaster Management and Special Services in the Ministry of Health,Dr. Marion Bullock Ducasse, is reporting a reduction in new cases of dengue. “We have looked at our cases and up to the week ending October 27, we are reporting 2,448 clinically suspected dengue cases of which 404 were laboratory confirmed. We are watching these figures very closely,...

The National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA), through its observance of National Drug Awareness Month 2012, is urging Jamaica’s youth to adopt healthy lifestyles and to reject influences of under-aged drinking and substance abuse. Themed: ‘Mek Wi Protect Wi Yutes from Substance Abuse’, the purpose of Drug Awareness Month is to encourage the public to participate in a national education...

Executive Director, Bureau of Women's Affairs, Faith Webster, says the Government has embarked on a process of gender mainstreaming, to ensure that gender is integrated into all policies, programmes and plans. Mrs. Webster noted that the Bureau has been charged with the responsibility to lead the process of gender mainstreaming in the public sector. “So, for the past two years...

Fraser, Fontaine & Kong (FFK) Limited's event, Party for Charity, to benefit the Heart Foundation of Jamaica (HFJ) and the Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS), which was scheduled for November 2, has been postponed to Friday, November 30, due to the recent passage of Hurricane Sandy. The event, which is expected to attract some 900 patrons, will take place at FFK's...

The Ministry of Health is heightening its Dengue Outbreak Control programme, to manage mosquito breeding sites that would have developed following last week's passage of Hurricane Sandy. This was disclosed by Director of Emergency Disaster Management and Special Services in the Ministry, Dr. Marion Bullock Ducasse, at Wednesday's (October 31) Jamaica House press briefing. “We are now out searching for...

All but one of the island's 25 public hospitals are now offering full services, following the passage of Hurricane Sandy last week, Director of Emergency Disaster Management and Special Services in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Marion Bullock Ducasse has said. “Twenty-four of them are offering full services, except for the Annotto Bay Hospital (in St. Mary), which is offering...

The Heart Foundation of Jamaica (HFJ) and the Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS) will be the beneficiaries from the 'Party for Charity' event, which is staged annually by Fraser, Fontaine & Kong (FFK) Limited, as part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives. The insurance company intends to offer approximately $1.5 million to both entities from the event, which will be held...