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The Darliston Health Centre in Westmoreland is to be extensively refurbished and transformed into a Centre of Excellence, with a start-up cost of some $25 million. This was announced by Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, during a tour of the Savanna-la-mar public hospital, and the Darliston and Williams Field health centres in Westmoreland, on October 5. The facility,...

Cabinet has approved a $69 million contract to Guardsman Limited for the provision of security services at the Mandeville Regional Hospital in Manchester. Minister with responsibility for Information, Senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer, told the Jamaica House press briefing that the contract period is three years. It covers 24-hours per day security service to ensure the safety of personnel, equipment,...

The Ministry of Health will be observing Mental Health Week from October 7 to 14, with focus on the problem of depression. Depression is a common mental disorder that is usually characterised by a state of low mood and an aversion to positive activity, which causes severe sadness, lack of concentration, physical restlessness, low productivity, headaches, and loss of appetite....

Residents of five communities in downtown Kingston now have access to proper bathroom facilities, following the official handing over of 100 sanitation units on September 27. The communities include: Central Kingston, Tivoli Gardens, Denham Town, Hanna Town and Fletcher's Land. Valued at approximately $109 million, the units  were financed by the PetroCaribe Development Fund, through its grant facility which is...

Health Minister, Hon.  Dr. Fenton Ferguson, says the Ministry is currently fine-tuning a gift policy, which will assist in streamlining and standardising donations in the health field. In his message, read by Jamaica's Honorary Consul to Atlanta, Vin Martin, at the Atlanta-Montego Bay Sister Cities Foundation annual fund-raising banquet, held at the Marriott Hotel in Atlanta on September 22, the...

The Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS) continues its fundraising drive today (Sept. 25), with the premier of the movie: The Odd Life of Timothy Green, at the Palace Cineplex, Sovereign Centre. The event gets underway with cocktails at 7:30 p.m. The cost of regular seats is $1,500 and $2,000 for box seats, and tickets are available at the JCS office located...

The Pesticides Control Authority (PCA) will be educating Jamaicans on the proper management of pesticides to cut down on hazards in the home and environment. This, as the authority observes ‘Pesticides Awareness Week 2012’ from September 23 to 29, under the theme: “Protecting Health and the Environment through Pesticide Management.” PCA Registrar, Michael Ramsay, told JIS News that several children...

The Ministry of Health is pushing for more Jamaican mothers to practice exclusive breastfeeding as it offers the best source of nutrition for babies, because of the many nutritional and other benefits that are derived from breast milk.   Portfolio Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, says "there is no better gift that we can give newborns than the gift of breastfeeding,...

Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, is one of several health ministers from the Americas attending the 28th Pan American Sanitary Conference in Washington D.C. The five-day meeting, which got underway Monday (Sept. 17), is being held at the headquarters of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO). Dr. Ferguson said the conference is important to Jamaica and the...

A project aimed at raising some $15 million to assist in the acquisition of two Linear Accelerators (LINAC) for the Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay, and a Kingston hospital, was launched today, September 13. The activity took place at the offices of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry.  Linear Accelerators represent the latest in technological developments for...

UNAIDS Country Coordinator for Jamaica, Bahamas and Belize, Dr. Pierre Somse, says Jamaica's private sector is a pivotal stakeholder in the country's overall efforts at combating HIV/AIDS. Addressing the Jamaica Employers Federation's (JEF) CEO Breakfast at the Wyndham Kingston Hotel on Wednesday (Sept. 12), Dr. Somse noted the inputs of several private entities to this end, through the establishment of...

The National Workplace Policy on HIV/AIDS is to be tabled in Parliament shortly as a White Paper, following Cabinet's approval. This was disclosed by Minister with responsibility for Information, Senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer, during today's a Jamaica House press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister. The National Workplace Policy on HIV/AIDS is a framework for action by...