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Manchester resident, Miss Keino Ward, who suffers from sickle cell anemia, is appealing to Jamaicans to offer emotional and other support to persons with the disease. She made the plea at a brief ceremony held at Total Body Therapy Centre in Mandeville on Saturday (December 5) where she received a $15,000 donation from the Caribbean District of Optimists International towards...

The Ministry of Health intends to scale up its Antiretroviral (ARV) treatment for persons infected by the HIV virus, by providing access to updated treatment regimes. "Even in an environment of no user fees there is a gap between the number of persons who are in need of ARV which we estimate to be about 6,000-7000 persons and the number...

The final Adolescent Mental Health Training Seminar for Teachers and Mental Health Officers was held on Friday (December 4), in Ocho Rios, St. Ann. The workshop is the final in a series conducted this year by the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education. It was held at the Ruins at the Falls under the theme, "There...

The National Health Fund (NHF) has approved funding for the construction of a perimeter fence at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Morant Bay, St. Thomas to increase security at the facility. Health Minister, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, making the announcement yesterday (December 3) following a tour of the facility, said that the NHF will be sending a "team of experts out...

One of the pioneers of Jamaica's first hospice, Mrs. Monica Cousins, is to launch a book about the 25-year-old Consie Walters Cancer Hospice, which is located on the grounds of the St. Joseph's Hospital, on Deanery Road, in Kingston. The launch will take place at St. Peter and Paul Church Hall, 120 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6, on Sunday, December...

The Ministry of Health is reminding persons to avoid mass gatherings if they have flu-like symptoms such as such as fever, cough, sore throat, and runny nose. Even if the symptoms are mild these persons are strongly cautioned to avoid crowded areas and stay home until they are well. "As we enter into the regular flu season we will be...

A contract valued at $26 .7 million, for the construction of a new Type 3 health centre in Duncans, Trelawny, was signed on the grounds of the Duncans/Dewar Health Centre on Tuesday (December 1). The contract was signed by representatives of the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) and the contractors, Sharecon Ltd. Work on the project will begin immediately, and...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has assured persons living with HIV/AIDS that the National HIV/AIDS Workplace Policy is expected o be debated in Parliament during the 2009/10 session, which ends next March. The draft policy was tabled in Parliament on November 11, following consideration of the Green Paper (preliminary report) by a Joint Select Committee of Parliament. The...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles, has said that the Government is currently reviewing the Maternity Leave Act, to support the promotion of gender equality in the workforce. Speaking recently at the launch of the International Labour Organization (ILO) /United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report on work and family, at the University of the West Indies (UWI),...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is announcing that an agreement has been reached with the Nurses' Association of Jamaica, Ministry of Finance and the Public Service and the Ministry of Health today at a meeting held at the Ministry, North Street, Kingston. The new Heads of Agreement for the period April 2008 - March 2010 will be signed...

A gift of 6,825 blood bags and 60 suction machines, valued at US$61,624, or close to J$5.5million, were handed over to Minister of Health, Hon. Rudyard Spencer today (November 27). The machines and blood bags were presented to the Minister by Food for the Poor, at an official handing over ceremony at the relief agency's Ellerslie Pen office, Spanish Town,...

Minister of Health, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, has made another appeal for Jamaicans, who are healthy and able, to donate blood at any collection centre, or the Blood Bank in Kingston. The Minister's plea comes as the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) is now in a better position to accommodate increased blood collections, with Food for the Poor's donation of 6,825...