Citizens of Westmoreland are being encouraged to take the COVID-19 shot as unvaccinated persons are still being hospitalised with the illness. The advice came from Medical Officer of Health for the parish, Dr. Marcia Graham, during the monthly meeting of the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation held in Savanna-la-Mar on March 9. “Since February 1, we have had 10 suspected deaths that...

The Ministry of Health and Wellness’ ‘Adopt-a-Clinic’ initiative continues to expand in St. James, with the Montego Bay Comprehensive Health Centre (Type Five) next in line for the philanthropic programme. The Adopt-a-Clinic programme seeks to proactively leverage the support of the Jamaican private sector and diaspora to play a more critical role in improving the primary healthcare system. Health and...

A new $29 million energy-efficient boiler system has been installed at the Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital in Westmoreland. The new Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG)-powered facility and boiler room were officially commissioned into service by Health and Wellness Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, during a ceremony on Friday (March 10). The project was funded by the Ministry in collaboration with...

On World Kidney Day, Thursday, March 9, the renal unit of the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) was bolstered with the formal handover of 10 new hemodialysis machines, valued over $30 million, by the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund. The entity also presented two new ambulances, valued approximately $33 million, to the Linstead Public Hospital in St. Catherine...

Parents in St. Elizabeth and across the island are being urged to take advantage of the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ ‘mop up/catch up’ campaign to get their children immunised. Medical Officer of Health, St. Elizabeth Health Department, Dr. Tonia Dawkins-Beharie, said health professionals in the parish have been visiting schools and communities since the launch of the initiative in...

More than 1.3 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Latin American and Caribbean member countries in less than two years. PAHO Director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa da Silva Jr., said the doses have enabled the region to achieve approximately 71 per cent coverage against the virus. “This is not a small feat. The...

Increased access to tests used in monitoring diabetes control has placed St. Thomas Health Services in a better position to manage patients, says Medical Officer of Health (MoH) for the parish, Dr. D’Oyen Smith. In an interview with JIS News, Dr. Smith explained that as the health facilities in the parish work towards achieving health and wellness among the population,...