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State Minister for National Security, Senator Arthur Williams has noted that preparing for an influenza pandemic requires the leveraging of all instruments of national power, and coordinated action by all segments of Government and society. "Influenza viruses do not respect distinctions of race, sex, age, profession or nationality, and are not constrained to geographic boundaries," he pointed out. Senator Williams,...

Minister of Health and Environment, Rudyard Spencer has said that a holistic approach should be taken to combat the effects of an influenza pandemic, should one occur. This approach, he noted, is of critical importance and will ensure that "we never lose sight of the possible impact of an influenza pandemic on a wider economy and on national security," he...

A two-day workshop and conference on pandemic influenza, is being staged from January 21 to 22 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, to discuss and plan prevention strategies, and economic recovery in the event of an influenza crisis. It will also focus on the Caribbean Community sustaining power, sewer, food, water and medical supplies, and other critical infrastructure. The...

The country's health sector has been boosted with the recent graduation of 44 general nursing and basic midwifery students from the Cornwall School of Nursing. Addressing the graduating ceremony held recently at King's Seventh Day Adventist Church in Mt. Salem, St. James, Rev. Everton Jackson, Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church in Montego Bay, urged the graduates to use their...

Minister of Health and Environment, Rudyard Spencer, has said that the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will not take place without a paradigm shift in the health and environment sectors. Making his contribution in the 2008/09 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, yesterday (June 3), Mr. Spencer said that these two sectors account (directly or indirectly) for...

Minister of Health and Environment, Rudyard Spencer, has said that a committee has been established to aid in the renewal of the country's Primary Health Care system. He pointed out that by September 2008, the committee would develop the concept and framework for a renewed Primary Health Care System in Jamaica; develop a strategic plan for a comprehensive and renewed...

Minister of Health and Environment, Rudyard Spencer has assured that all relevant stakeholders have been engaged regarding the removal of user fees at public health facilities, except the University Hospital of the West Indies. He said all are now onboard and committed to ensuring that the policy succeeds. "We have met with every critical player in healthcare in Jamaica especially...

Think about all the things that persons do with their hands: write, offer handshakes, nibble on their nails when nervous or hungry, pick their nose, open doors of cars, offices, shops and bathrooms, hold the rail in the bus. the list is endless. But how often do persons wash these hard working appendages attached to their upper limbs, daily? For...

Heads of Government and top health officials from across the region are expected to be in full attendance at the first ever CARICOM Summit on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), which will take place on September 15 in Trinidad and Tobago. According to Dr. Edward Green, CARICOM Assistant Secretary General, the main objective of the Summit is to forge dialogue on the...

The Noel Holmes Hospital and Westhaven Children's Home in Hanover are to benefit from medical equipment, toys and sundry items, donated by 'Friends' of the institutions. These items will be handed over by Gloria Leslie and her husband, David, when they visit the island in March. Mrs. Leslie is the Founder and Chairman of the Friends of the Noel Holmes...

Cabinet has approved the award of a contract for repair work to be carried out at the May Pen Hospital in Clarendon. Economic Maintenance Products Limited has been contracted to rectify defects at the hospital over a 12-week period, at a cost of some $58.4 million. Information Minister, Senator Burchell Whiteman, who gave details of the contract at yesterday's (January...

The efforts of the Pesticides Control Authority to register premises to sell restricted pesticides and to license pest control operators, is being met with some measure of success. According to information contained in the 2004 Annual Report of the Health Ministry, during the 2003/04 reporting period, 18 new products were registered and 42 applications were received, 34 of which were...