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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...

KINGSTON — Minister of Health, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, says the Government will be recruiting an additional 56 health care workers from Cuba next month, to boost the capacity of the sector. “We have a tremendous shortage (of health care workers) worldwide, not just in Jamaica...this is why the Ministry of Health has entered into an arrangement with the Cuban Government,”...

KINGSTON — The Seaview Gardens Health Centre in St. Andrew was officially re-opened by Minister of Health, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, on August 25 following rehabilitation of the facility. The works, undertaken at a cost of $9.8 million, form part of the National Health Fund’s (NHF) ongoing $300 million programme to rehabilitate health centres across the island. Included in the renovation...

KINGSTON — Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles, is encouraging young people to make use of every opportunity they have been given, while allowing themselves to be influenced only by positive role models. “It is all in your hands. I have never believed that anyone holds my future, except me,” he said. The Minister was speaking at...

MONTEGO BAY — Twelve manually operated wheelchairs, in various sizes, were officially presented to the St. Ann's Bay Hospital on Wednesday August 24, courtesy of the Rotary Club of St. Andrew's wheelchairs project. The wheelchairs are part of some 405 brought to Jamaica this year by the Rotary Club of St. Andrew, through the U.S.-based Rotarians Wheelchair Foundation. According to...

MONTEGO BAY — Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has emphasised that the Caribbean and Latin American regions need to work as a unit to educate their people, and help to foster safer sexual practices and healthier social attitudes. "Ultimately, once this is done, I know that we will win the fight (against HIV/AIDS) and safeguard the lives of our...