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The Jamaica Social Investment Fund on August 14 handed over two ambulances, valued at $6.2 million, to the Ministry of Health to be utilised by the North East Regional Health Authority. Purchase of the ambulances was made possible through the Government of Jamaica, under the European Union-funded Tropical Storm Gustav Emergency Recovery Project. The ambulances will assist in emergency response...

The Alexandria Community Hospital in St. Ann is to be upgraded to offer additional services. It will also be designated a Centre of Excellence sometime in the future. This was announced by Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, when he addressed staff at the facility on August 9. "It is a fine institution nested in a most beautiful setting....

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, said the Government is looking to undertake a comprehensive reform of the mental health sector, to improve the level of care given to persons with mental illness. The Minister was speaking at the National Mental Health Officer's Symposium held on August 3 at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston. He informed that the...

The Government of Jamaica (GOJ) Health Card, aimed at improving the accessibility of medication for persons, who receive care at public-health facilities, should be available in the next three months. Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, made the disclosure as he addressed a workshop to present and discuss the Ministry’s biennial work plan and its collaboration with the Pan...

After undergoing surgery to remove a catheter and replace it with a fistula, both of which facilitate dialysis treatment, Maurice Leighton uttered the words:  “You have given me a bridge to life.” “This fistula gives more freedom, more movement; to live, to enjoy life and feel like we can make a better contribution to society,” tells JIS News. An elated...

Some $182 million has been allocated for the construction of water bound sanitary facilities in some 26 schools across the island. The funds have been set aside under Phase I of the Replacement of Pit Latrines in Schools Programme, which is being supported by the government, in partnership with the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund, the Jamaica...

A contract valued at approximately $21 million was signed between the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) and the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA) for rehabilitation of the Sandy Bay Health Centre in Hanover. The signing took place on Thursday (July 19) on the grounds of the health centre. Work on the four-month project, is scheduled to begin immediately, and includes...

Cabinet approved a $649 million contract to Caterers in Motion Limited for the provision of dietary services at the Kingston Public, Victoria Jubilee and the National Chest Hospitals. Speaking on July 18 Jamaica House press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister, Minister with responsibility for Information, Senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer, said the contract is being awarded for...

Director, Sub-regional Office in the Caribbean, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Geeta Sethi, said that universal access to reproductive health must be a priority investment for all governments in the region. “People are the most important resource of a country and given the Caribbean’s large youth population, half of which is below 25 years old, special emphasis must be placed...

Mayor of  Portmore, George Lee, says the much anticipated hospital for the Municipality  will become a reality this year. He said that the  ground-breaking for the hospital will be "sometime this year," noting that the project "will change the face of Portmore and create jobs for the people." The Mayor was speaking at a community forum on July 12, at...

The country's adolescents and youths are being urged to take serious responsibility for their sexual and reproductive health to avoid unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STI). The appeal came from Acting Director, Social Policy, Planning and Research Division, Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Easton Williams, at a World Population Day symposium held on July 11 at Emancipation Park in...

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, says Jamaica’s participation in the rapidly growing global health export sector is crucial to the country’s sustainable health development. He said health care services are recognised as being a very important contributor to the growth and development of the services sector, which the most recent estimates put at 81.5 per cent of Jamaica’s...