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Minister of Health, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, and senior officials of the Ministry, on Friday afternoon (July 10), briefed Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding on the current situation relating to the Influenza A (H1N1) virus. According to the Ministry of Health, the meeting took place in light of the second recorded death in Jamaica associated with the virus. The person,...

The Hanover Health Department is taking a proactive approach, including increasing surveillance, to prevent the Influenza A (HINI) virus from spreading to the parish. Hanover remains one of the parishes unaffected by the virus with no confirmed cases to date. Addressing the monthly meeting of the Hanover Parish Council in Lucea on July 9, Acting Medical Officer of Health for...

The Hanover Health Department will be carrying out vector control activities, as it moves to contain the increase in the mosquito population, resulting from the high levels of rainfall in the parish since the start of the hurricane season in June. "It is a situation that affects us as a population in different communities", said Acting Medical Officer of Health...

The third staging of the North East Regional Health Authority's (NERHA) Research Conference was held recently in Ocho Rios, under the theme: 'Forging Alliances through Environmental Research'. The forum, which brought public health professionals together at the Christ Temple Evangelical Centre, allowed for the sharing of experiences, work and best practices in environmental health. Regional Environment Health Officer at NERHA,...

The North East Regional Health Authority (NERHA) of the Ministry of Health, will stage its third research conference on Tuesday (July 7), under the theme: "Forging Alliances through Environmental Health Research", at the Christ Temple Evangelistic Centre, Ocho Rios, St. Ann. The conference, which starts at 9:00 a.m., will target public health inspectors, nurses, educators and doctors from the three...

New President of the Rotary Club of Mandeville, Manchester, Dr. Olajide Adekeye, has said that the group will continue to raise funds to provide more equipment for the Mandeville Regional Hospital. "It is part of our community responsibility to equip this major medical facility in central Jamaica with state-of-the-art equipment, and we intend to provide equipment worth over US$50,000 to...

Jamaica's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Sheila Campbell-Forester, is optimistic that Jamaica will achieve Millennium Development Goal (MDG) five, which aims to reduce the country's maternal mortality ratio (MMR) by 75 per cent by 2015. To achieve the target, the country will need to reduce its current MMR from 95 deaths per 100,000 live births to 25 deaths per 100,000 live...

With no confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus in the parish of Hanover, the Hanover Health Department in collaboration with the Disaster Preparedness Committee on Tuesday (June 30) held an education and awareness seminar for committee members. Member of the Hanover/Westmoreland Health Education and Promotion team, Marie James, assisted by Chief Public Health Inspector for the parish, Derrick Storer, delivered...

Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Senator Aundre Franklin, is travelling to Mexico this week to participate in a high level meeting on 'Learned Lessons from Influenza A (H1N1)'. The invitation was extended by the Government of Mexico, in an effort to share information about the country's experience with handling the outbreak of the Influenza A (H1N1) virus, which...

The Ministry of Health has not at this time placed any restriction on public gatherings. Members of the public will however be notified if the situation changes, as the confirmed cases of Influenza A (H1N1) are expected to increase. The Ministry indicated last week that there is now local transmission of the virus and this was expected. Dr. Sheila Campbell...

In response to the shortage of health technicians, which currently exists, the Government will be moving swiftly to beef up the sector with the introduction of a training programme, which will see some 40 dialysis and nurse technicians being trained this September. This announcement was made by Minister of Health, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, at the recent launch of the 'Friends...

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Sheila Campbell Forrester, says the Ministry of Health's surveillance system has been on alert for respiratory illnesses for a number of years. She says the system has been heightened with the introduction of the new Influenza A(H1N1) virus and the Ministry has the experience and the capabilities to detect and treat cases early, through this heightened...