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The Ministry of Health has received healthcare items, including 200 wheelchairs, from Food for the Poor (FFP), which are to be distributed to health facilities across the island. The other items, which included 40 hospital beds, four operating theatre lights, two stretchers and 51 sofas, were handed over during a ceremony at the FFP’s headquarters in Spanish Town, St. Catherine,...

The Government intends to continue its no user fee policy at the primary health care level, Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, has assured. Dr. Ferguson, who was addressing a Kiwanis Club of Constant Spring meeting on February 12, at the Mayfair Hotel in St. Andrew, said the Government came to office with a clear commitment to primary health care....

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, says that the effort by the Government to implement law to ban smoking in public places, is aimed at protecting the health of citizens. Dr. Ferguson, who was addressing a meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Constant Spring held yesterday (February 12) at the Mayfair Hotel in St. Andrew, said the matter is...

Six dental surgeons from Cuba will be available to work at the primary health care level, when they arrive in the island later this year. This was disclosed by Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, during an interview with JIS News, following a planning and evaluation meeting of the Oral Health Services Unit, at the Alhambra Inn, in Kingston...

The Ministry of Health is exploring the possibility of acquiring a mobile unit, as part of efforts to improve the delivery of healthcare across the island, with particular emphasis on oral health. Persons who may not be able to visit the various health facilities in close proximity to them, will be targeted. This was disclosed by Minister of Health, Hon....

The White Paper on the National Workplace Policy on HIV and AIDS was tabled in the Senate on Friday, February 8. The policy is a framework for action by the Government, employers and workers to deal effectively with HIV/AIDS in places of employment. It is based on the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) principles on HIV/AIDS in the workplace. It takes...

Work is to begin soon at the Princess Margaret Hospital in St. Thomas as the Ministry of Health moves to improve security at the facility. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, said that a contract valuing $13.6 million was signed on February 1 to put in perimeter fencing at the hospital. The work is being funded by the National Health...

Thousands of residents of St.Thomas and Portland are set to benefit from upgrading of the Isaac Barrant Health Centre in Golden Grove, which will be developed into a centre of excellence. Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, on Thursday, February 7, signed two of three contracts valued at just over $25 million for development of the infrastructure and services...

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), on February 6 handed over a cash grant for US$40,000 to the Ministry of Health’s vector control/dengue outbreak control and prevention programme. The money, which was handed over during a press briefing at the Ministry of Health, downtown Kingston, will be used to purchase 18 fogging machines and a drum of Malathion, one of...

Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, says his Ministry will be partnering with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) to develop clear strategies to address the increase in violence-related injuries, which he said, are having a major impact on the local health sector. Dr. Fenton, who is also chairman of CARPHA, was addressing...

Deputy Executive Director of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Richard Thompson, has assured that there are no health concerns regarding the 25 Haitians who arrived in Portland by boat on February 5. He said the Ministry of Health has already conducted tests for diseases, such as malaria and dengue. Mr. Thompson was speaking at Wednesday’s, February...

The National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) is currently developing a five-year strategic plan, aimed at boosting its intake of blood from donors to at least 50,000 units per annum. The NBTS, also known as the Blood Bank, is the central public health institution responsible for collecting, storing and allocating blood, based on medical needs. Former NBTS Director, Dr. Lundie Richards,...