Government Feature on Ebola and ChikV Airs Tonight

As part of the national Chikungunya (CHIKV)/ Ebola public education response, a special one hour feature ‘Ebola and Chikungunya: What You Need to Know,’ will air tonight (October 29) on television.

The feature will air at 8 p.m. on the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica (PBCJ), and at 9:30 p.m. on Television Jamaica (TVJ).  It can also be viewed on the JIS’ website at www.jis.gov.jm.

An initiative of the Ministry of Information/ Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), the programme, which is produced by the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), will explore the Government’s response to the spread of the Chikungunya virus and examine strategies being implemented.

It will also feature local and international health professionals, who will address concerns on Jamaica’s readiness to manage a possible Ebola outbreak.

Guests will include Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Kevin Harvey and Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) Disease Prevention and Control Advisor for Jamaica, Bermuda and Cayman, Dr. Kam Suan Mung.

Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer, who also chairs the National Health Response Monitoring Committee, said public education initiatives such as this feature, are important in building understanding of the issues.

She said it will also help allay the fears of citizens, which can negatively impact efforts at addressing these two important health concerns presently facing the nation.