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KINGSTON — More than 60,000 Jamaicans have been screened under the bi-lateral eye care programme, ‘Miracle Operation’, jointly administered locally by the Health Ministries of Jamaica and Cuba, since the initiative’s establishment in 2005. Cuban Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Yuri Gala Lopez, says the benefits accruing have mainly been surgeries, of which just over 6,000 have been performed, free...

KINGSTON — Twenty-two retirees of the Ministry of Health were honoured for exemplary service, at a function at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston on Tuesday, May 10. They were acknowledged for years of service to various departments within the Ministry, spanning 14 to 42 years and totalling 735 years, collectively. The retirees are: Marcia Hyman McKay; Violet Griffith; Beverley...

KINGSTON — The fight against HIV/AIDS in Jamaica and the stigma associated with the virus, has received a boost of US$58,000 from the United States Ambassador to Jamaica, Her Excellency Pamela Bridgewater. The signing for the funding, which falls under the Presidents’ Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), took place at the United States Embassy in Kingston, Tuesday (May 10)....

PORT ANTONIO — Delivery of healthcare and education in Western St. Mary has been boosted with the recent presentation of medical supplies and computer modems to health centres and schools in the constituency. The medical supplies, including wheelchairs, walkers, mattresses and blood pressure machines, were procured from Jamaicans living in Canada, while the computer modems were donated by Member of...

KINGSTON — The capacity of Jamaica's public health sector to effectively deliver services to the public, has been significantly boosted by the addition of 16 Cuban nurses. The nurses arrived at the Norman Manley International Airport on Thursday (May 5), where they were met by officials of the Ministry of Health, headed by Chief Nursing Officer, Dr. Leila McWhinney-Dehaney, and...

PORT ANTONIO — Approximately 200 members of staff of the St. Mary Health Services came out to show off their athletic prowess, while enjoying friendly camaraderie at a fun day held on Friday April 29 at the Westmoreland Oval in Annotto Bay. The event culminated a series of activities for the parish in celebration of Health Month from April 1...

The Ministry of Health yesterday received some $670,000 worth of baby treatment masks and spacers to be used in the care of young asthmatic patients in public health facilities. The lifesaving equipment was donated by the LASCO Pharmaceuticals Division in recognition of World Asthma Day, which is being observed under the theme: ‘You Can Control Your Asthma’. Speaking at the...

KINGSTON — Minister of Health, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, has challenged the country’s leaders to craft policies and develop programmes to end stigma, discrimination and gender inequality in the society.  “Many of our people are marginalised because of a disability, a health condition, including but not limited to HIV/AIDS or their sexual preference. We must remove the impediments of access to...

PORT ANTONIO — Scores of residents of Jeffery Town and surrounding communities in St. Mary benefitted from free health checks at a health fair held last Tuesday April 19 on the grounds of the Jeffery Town Health Centre. The event, which was organised by the St. Mary Health Department to mark the first anniversary of the opening of the health...

KINGSTON — The Ministry of Health's project to reduce HIV prevalence among persons deemed most at risk has been boosted this fiscal year by a $233.9 million budgetary allocation. This has been outlined in the 2011/12 Estimates of Expenditure, currently being reviewed by the Standing Finance Committee of the House of Representatives. The project, which commenced in October 2009, aims...

KINGSTON — The Public Sector Transformation Unit (PSTU) is set to receive a cash injection of $74.6 million to carry out its work this fiscal year. This is set out in the 2011/2012 Estimates and Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. With funding support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the United...

KINGSTON — The Government will continue to collaborate with the United Nation’s International Children’s Educational Fund (UNICEF) to increase youth access to quality information, skills and services to reduce the risk of HIV infection in 2011/12. The effort will be financed through an allocation of $16.7 million to the Youth Empowerment and Participation Programme in the 2011/12 Estimates of Expenditure,...