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Minister of Health, John Junor has lauded workers in the health sector for their high quality of work and dedication to duty. He however pointed to areas within the sector that needed an intensification of effort. "Our maternal mortality rate is still unsatisfactory at 112 deaths per 100,000. HIV/AIDS and our chronic diseases situation continue to pose very serious challenges...

Food items have been condemned and seized island wide, as the Ministry of Health steps up its effort to monitor food-handling establishments in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan. In the parish of Portland, for example, 11,699 kilograms of food items have been condemned. The categories of food condemned run the gamut from meat products to bottled and boxed drinks. Speaking...

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the Jamaica Cancer Society will be intensifying its efforts to increase the level of awareness among women about the disease. Mammography Unit Manager/Outreach Co-ordinator at the Society, Yvonne Watson tells JIS News that the month's activities will be observed under the theme: 'Early detection equals longer life - Please tell a friend'. She...

The Kingston & St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) has donated $150,000 to the Early Stimulation Project, which was created to meet the developmental needs of children with disabilities. The money will be disbursed over the next three years with an initial contribution of $50,000 in the first year. Mayor of Kingston, Desmond McKenzie, made the announcement at a graduation ceremony held...

"My daughter, my only child", were the first words Earnest Williams uttered as he walked into the small room at the Registrar General's Department (RGD) and saw his daughter, Yvonne Williams-Brown, tears streaming down her face. Torn apart by a spousal separation, Earnest, 64, last saw his only living child, Yvonne, now 37, at age two. So near, yet so...

The Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) in St. James has reported that it was only collecting 60 per cent of the fees required for the efficient operation of the hospital but has implemented measures to improve collection. According to Everton Anderson, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CRH, hospital bills were in the region of $18 million to $20 million per...

Ground has been broken for a new accident and emergency ward at the Black River Hospital in St. Elizabeth. Minister of Health, John Junor, speaking recently at the official ceremony, noted that the project was expected to cost some $39 million. He pointed out that the Health Support Fund (HSF), in collaboration with the Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA), would...

Acting Director of Nutrition in the Ministry of Health, Sharmaine Edwards, has urged parents to foster healthy eating habits in their children, to encourage them to practice good nutrition as they grow older and avoid the hazards of unhealthy eating such as obesity. "Obesity will cause a child to become lethargic, develop a negative body image, low self-esteem and it...

As the start of the 2004/05 school year approaches, the Ministry of Health has stepped up its immunization drive and is encouraging parents to ensure that their children are fully immunized before sending them out to school. In an interview with JIS News, Dr. Christine Hammond-Gabbadon, Acting Director of the Family Health Services Unit in the Ministry, explained that under...

As the 2004 hurricane season progresses, the Ministry of Health is advising persons who store water for domestic use, to ensure that supplies are safe for drinking and preparing food. The caution is especially directed at residents of the parishes of St. Elizabeth and Manchester, who experienced flooding during the recent passing of Hurricane Charley. The Ministry's Environmental Health Unit...

Hospital administrators are encouraging members of the public to pay user fees for services provided, noting that the charges were important in maintaining the network of public health facilities across the island. Everton Anderson, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) in St. James, told JIS News that user fees have become a critical part of the...

A mobile wellness clinic, which was implemented by the Clarendon Health Department as part of its wellness programme, has now extended its services to the parish of St. Catherine. Parish Manager for the Clarendon Health Department, Michael Bent, told JIS News that the clinic began visiting St. Catherine in April this year, and to date at least six visits have...