Residents of Westmoreland are encouraged to destroy mosquito breeding sites, and protect themselves from mosquito bites by wearing appropriate clothing, and using repellent, nets and screens. The call comes from Medical Officer of Health for the parish, Dr. Marcia Graham, who points out that the Aedes index in the parish has increased. She was addressing the recent monthly meeting of...

A group of researchers is recommending the reclassification of the causes of pregnancy-related deaths, regardless of whether the complication was obstetric or medical. This is intended to help identify the human and other resources needed to end preventable maternal deaths, as women delay childbearing and present in pregnancy with pre-existing medical conditions, some undiagnosed. A study, entitled ‘New Maternal Mortality...

Medical Officer of Health for Westmoreland, Dr. Marcia Graham, has informed that the Aedes index in the parish has decreased. She was addressing the monthly meeting of the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation in Savanna-la-Mar on January 14. “As at mid-December, our Aedes index was down to 4.8 per cent. Once you are below five per cent, then you significantly decrease the...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Hon. Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, says Jamaicans accepting personal responsibility for protecting their own health is a major factor in overall wellness. Speaking at the opening of the Life Store Wellness Boutique on Constant Spring Road, on December 9, the State Minister said this is a necessary mindset that needs to be...

Medical Officer of Health for Westmoreland, Dr. Marcia Graham, is imploring citizens not to use antibiotics to treat viral illnesses such as the coronavirus (COVID-19) and influenza (flu), as doing so could make the body antibiotic resistant. She was addressing the monthly meeting of the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation at the entity’s location in Savanna-la-Mar on November 12. “Influenza and COVID-19...

The St. James Health Department is intensifying its vector-control activities to address an increase in the parish’s Aedes index to 25.6 per cent in October up from 13.2 per cent in September. Speaking at the monthly meeting of the St. James Municipal Corporation held at the Montego Bay Cultural Centre on November 12, Deputy Chief Public Health Inspector for St....

Chief Public Health Inspector for Westmoreland, Steve Morris, is crediting the Housing, Opportunity, Production and Employment (HOPE) programme vector control workers at the Public Health Department for keeping the Aedes index in the parish low. In an interview with JIS News, Mr. Morris lauded the workers for their hard work in helping the parish minimise the number of breeding sites...

Acting Medical Officer of Health for St. Ann, Dr. Tamika Henry, says the parish has not had any confirmed cases of dengue fever between January and the end of August. “We are doing very well. We have our temporary workers, who are out in the field every day, as well as our permanent workers that do search and destroy activities....

Regional Vector Control Officer, Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), Ryan Morris, is urging continued vigilance by residents in searching for and destroying mosquito-breeding sites, in light of the increased rainfall affecting western parishes. Speaking in an interview with JIS News, he noted that the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika, primarily breeds in clean water, which...

Acting Chief Public Health Inspector for St. James, Sherika Lewis, says rigorous vector-control activities are continuing across the parish, in order to stem the spread of the dengue fever. According to Ms. Lewis, the parish’s mosquito Aedes index jumped to 11.5 per cent in August, an increase over previous months, which means that more breeding sites were identified in August....

Medical Officer of Health for Westmoreland, Dr. Marcia Graham, is calling on residents in the parish not to get complacent in protecting themselves against dengue fever. The dengue outbreak was declared over recently by Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton. Addressing the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation meeting on July 9 in Savanna-la-Mar, Dr. Graham said although the...

Chief Public Health Inspector for Westmoreland, Steve Morris, says vector-control measures continue in the parish in order to stem the spread of dengue fever. This is even while notifications of the disease, as well as the Aedes index in the parish, have decreased, with the index currently at 6.3 per cent. “We are still in the dengue outbreak and the...