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WASHINGTON — A total of 160 of the island’s 320 public health centres are to be equipped with state-of-the-art blood pressure machines donated by the Washington-based Jamaica Women of Washington (JWoW) at a cost of $2.6 million (US$32,000). President of the organisation, Dr. Jacqueline Watson, said that because hypertension is such a major problem in Jamaica, JWoW has joined forces...

MONTEGO BAY — Ground was broken on Thursday (June 23) for the construction of a Matron’s Quarters at the St. Elizabeth Infirmary in Santa Cruz, at a cost of $7 .5 million. The facility will cover an area of 920 square feet. It will comprise three bedrooms and feature concrete foundations, reinforced block walls, slab roofing, ceramic tiles and louvre...

KINGSTON — Minister of Health, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, is urging Jamaicans to get tested for HIV, even as the country continues to make significant strides towards better treatment and care for those infected with the disease. The Minister made the call in a statement read by Vice Chairman, National AIDS Committee (NAC) and Acting Director, Health Promotion and Protection Division,...

PORT ANTONIO — Increasing incidents of depression leading to acts of suicide, have led mental health facilities to commence a more vigorous campaign to alert persons to the warning signs. The Portland Community Mental Health Service has established additional rehabilitative methods and revamped its outreach programmes, to sensitize persons and bring awareness to prevent its progression. Mental Health Officer at...

MANDEVILLE — The Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA) has launched a customer service hotline, as it moves to improve client relations and enhance service delivery at health facilities within the region. Regional Technical Director at SRHA, Dr. Michael Coombs, speaking at the launch held at the organisation’s head office in Mandeville on Thursday (June 16), explained that through the hotline,...

KINGSTON — The services provided by the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) have been significantly enhanced with the launch of the agency’s website. The facility, which was developed by Chrysalis Communications, was launched during a ceremony at the Ministry of Health’s King Street offices downtown Kingston on Tuesday (June 14), which was observed globally as World Blood Donor Day.  Managing...

KINGSTON — Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Jean Dixon, contends that the National Blood Transfusion Service's (NBTS) target, of collecting some 50,000 units of blood annually, is achievable. Speaking at the launch of the NBTS’ website at the Ministry, King Street, downtown Kingston, on Tuesday June 14, Dr. Dixon noted that approximately 28,000 units of blood were...

MONTEGO BAY — The Old Hospital Park on Gloucester Avenue in Montego Bay, which was extensively upgraded through a partnership between the Ministry of Tourism, the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) and the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) was officially opened on Tuesday June 14. The $45 million project was funded by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), which has also...

KINGSTON — State Minister in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Andrew Gallimore is urging men to adopt preventive practices regarding their health, particularly in relation to prostate cancer. In a message delivered by Director of Social Security in the Ministry, Denzil Thorpe, at a ‘Men’s Health Day 2011’ function, held at the Girl Guides headquarters in Kingston,...

KINGSTON — The National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) is taking its blood donor appeal to the streets, with the staging of a walk on World Blood Donor Day (WBDD), Tuesday, June 14. The Blood for Life Walk, being held in collaboration with the Junior Chamber International of Kingston, will begin at 6:30 a.m. at the NBTS’ Slipe Pen Road office...

OCHO RIOS — Acting Chief Public Health Inspector in the St. Ann Health Department, Leroy Scott, has called on parishioners to be proactive in checking for sources of mosquito breeding in their communities, and help the Department prevent mosquito bourne diseases in the parish. The appeal was made at the monthly meeting of the St. Ann Parish Council in St....

MONTEGO BAY — The Trelawny Health Department says it has stepped up its monitoring systems throughout the parish, especially at the ports. Chief Public Health Inspector, Elsa Somerville, in her report at the monthly meeting of the Trelawny Parish Council in Falmouth on June 10, said it is this increased vigilance that led to the recent capture of four stowaways...