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KINGSTON — Parents or guardians of children born between January 2006 and December 2010, who are without birth certificates, are being urged to take advantage of the series of birth certificate fairs to be hosted by the Registrar General’s Department (RGD) across the island. Some 6,000 children under the age of five from poor communities are to be provided with...

KINGSTON — Health Minister, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, says a multi-sectoral approach must be taken if the country is to effectively tackle the increasing levels of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), especially among young people. The Minister noted that studies have shown that people are now developing NCDs at a younger age, taking the epidemic to even greater levels. He argued that...

KINGSTON — Scores of residents of Longville Park and surrounding communities in Clarendon are expected to attend a National Health Festival, to celebrate Caribbean Wellness Day 2011, on Saturday, September 10. The event, organised by the Ministry of Health in partnership with the National Health Fund (NHF), will be staged at the Longville Park Healthy Zone between 10 a.m. and...

KINGSTON — Four hospitals are to be certified by the Ministry of Health (MOH), as a part of its commitment to the Baby- Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI). The facilities are the St. Ann’s Bay and Alexandria Hospitals, St. Ann, May Pen Hospital, Clarendon and the Mandeville Hospital, Manchester. Speaking at a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank session on Wednesday...

KINGSTON — The Ministry of Health has been commended for taking steps toward developing a national strategic plan to combat chronic non-communicable diseases. This commendation was extended by Pan-American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) Representative in Jamaica, Dr. Hugo Prado-Monje, at the opening of a two-day workshop, titled ‘National Consultation on Strategic Plan for Non-Communicable Diseases’, at the Wyndham Hotel,...

KINGSTON — The Government has spent more than $5 billion on pharmaceutical imports over the past four years, the Ministry of Health is reporting. Statistics from the Ministry show that budgetary allocations to procure pharmaceuticals increased from just over $1 billion in 2007/08 to approximately $3.7 billion, earmarked for the 2011/12 fiscal year. There were allocations of $2 billion and...

KINGSTON — Health Minister, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, says the Ministry will be moving to address challenges at the Stony Hill Health Centre in St. Andrew, with a view to re-instating it to a Type V facility. Speaking with JIS News, following a recent tour of the centre, Mr. Spencer cited several shortcomings. “The medical rooms are seriously cramped…that has to...

KINGSTON — Health Minister, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, is appealing to parents to ensure that their children, particularly those five years and under, are fully immunised for the new school year. “The youngsters must be fully immunised as required by law. If you are not sure your child is fully immunised, bring him/her to the health centre, and a health worker...

KINGSTON — Minister of Health, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, says islandwide coverage under Jamaica’s immunization programme has been steadily increasing, particularly over the last 20 years. Mr. Spencer said that coverage for illnesses such as measles has increased from 74 per cent in 1990 to 88 per cent in 2009, adding that since 2000 there have only been two recorded cases...

KINGSTON — Minister of Health, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, intends to table a Bill in Parliament, “in a matter of weeks”, prohibiting smoking in public places and spaces. Mr. Spencer said that the intention is to significantly enhance the ministry’s healthy lifestyle campaign, which is being promoted in earnest by the relevant departments and agencies. Speaking at the official re-opening of...

KINGSTON — The newly refurbished Lawrence Tavern health centre, in West Rural St. Andrew, was officially re-opened on September 1, by Health Minister, Hon. Rudyard Spencer. Refurbishing of the centre, a Type III facility, which was done over a five-month period, between October 2010 and March this year, by the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA), was funded by the...

KINGSTON — Minister of Health, Hon Rudyard Spencer, says that there has been an increase in the number of persons accessing care at public health centres in Portmore, St. Catherine. Speaking at the official reopening of the Waterford Health Centre, on Thursday August 25, in St. Catherine, the Minister said that health centre utilisation in Portmore had moved from 55,394...