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The Ministry of Labour and Social Security, is working to have the National Workplace Policy on HIV/AIDS tabled in Parliament in 2013. 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...

Patients and staff of the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) got an early Christmas treat on Thursday (December 6), when they received a visit from Governor-General, His Excellency, the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, who came bearing gifts. The Governor-General’s visit was part of his annual tour of hospitals during the Yuletide season to bring cheer to patients and staff. He...

The Ministry of Health will be hosting a service of appreciation for the contribution that the Cubans have made to Jamaica's health care system over the past 40 years. Themed, ‘Celebrating 40 years of Cuba’s Contribution to Health’, the function will be held on Tuesday, December 11, at the Ministry’s  head office, located at 2-4 Kings Street in Downtown, Kingston....

Cabinet has approved the award of a contract to Arel Limited for the supply and installation of a Computed Tomography (CT) scanner at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), at a cost of some US$646,944. This was disclosed by Minister with responsibility for Information, Senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer, during the weekly Jamaica House press briefing, held at...

Minister of State for Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Damion Crawford, says that workplaces must provide support for persons living with HIV/AIDS. “Persons who have HIV, it is no different from a person with …any other sickness. The only thing that person needs, is more support from people around them. As a member of staff, as a manager, as a friend,...

Jamaica’s capability to dispose of medical waste has been significantly boosted, with the official opening of the National Medical Waste Management Plant on November 29. The facility, located at 15-17 Drummond Street in downtown Kingston, was established at a cost of US$3 million. It is the island’s first state-of-the-art non-incineration automated medical waste plant and is expected to improve the...

The National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA) will be hosting its 2012 Drug Awareness Symposium on Tuesday, November 27, at the Morant Bay Anglican Church in St. Thomas.            The event, which is slated to begin at 10 a.m., forms part of the activities being held in commemoration of Drug Awareness Month (November), and is part of the NCDA’s thrust...

The Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ) supporting the Government’s move to review the abolition of user fees in the public health care system. The 2012/2013 LASCO/NAJ Nurse of the Year, Victoria Melhado, made the declaration at a public education forum staged by the NAJ on November 23, at Emancipation Park in New Kingston. Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, informed...

The Ambulatory Chemotherapy Unit at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) was officially opened on November 23, to provide enhanced care for cancer patients. The unit is the first of its kind for the downtown-based hospital and will improve treatment and diagnostic services for increased survival and recovery of persons suffering from cancer. A total of $6.5 million was spent to...

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, says the Ministry is seriously addressing the findings of an assessment of the national health information system, and is applying the attention and resources to secure improvements in a realistic and carefully planned manner.             He was speaking at the third annual National Health Research Conference at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New...

The Ministry of Health has established an Equipment Performance Taskforce (EPTF) to develop a framework for the optimal use of medical equipment, and to assist in standardising procurement. This was disclosed by Portfolio Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, during the official opening of the Ambulatory Chemotherapy Unit at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) today (November 23). He said the proposed...

Minister of State for Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Colin Fagan, says a sustained public education programme, targeted particularly at the youth, is critical in raising awareness of the adverse effects of smoking. “Statistics provided to me indicate a worrying trend that has shown that Jamaica is now having children as young as 10 years old addicted to smoking;...