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JAMAICA: Vector Control Programme to be Strengthened

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#Kingston, February 11, 2019 – Jamaica – Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says the vector control mechanism will be strengthened in order to reduce transmission of dengue fever and other mosquito-borne illnesses.  He said that the enhanced programme will include boosting the number of personnel deployed to communities to assist in the elimination of mosquito breeding sites.

Dr. Tufton noted that some 500 communities have been identified as vulnerable and at-risk for mosquito breeding, hence the need for ongoing efforts by the health workers to visit homes, destroy sites, as well as increase awareness among householders.

“The most effective defence against dengue is to help citizens in their communities to recognize the breeding sites and to destroy them,” he said, noting that fogging will be increased in certain areas and additional equipment provided for the workers.

Dr. Tufton was addressing a town hall held on Thursday (February 7), at the HEART/Trust NTA’s College of Construction Services in Portmore, St. Catherine.

Since the recent outbreak of dengue, the Ministry has increased its public education campaign on prevention of the disease, including destroying mosquito breeding grounds in and around the home.

Dr. Tufton noted that workers inspected over 9,000 premises in St. Catherine during the month of January.  The health teams visited 54 schools in Portmore, fogged 75 communities and 34 schools, and inspected 11 drains, among other things.

Dengue fever is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito and symptoms of the disease typically begin three to 14 days after infection. These may include high fever, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, and a skin rash. Symptoms usually last two to seven days.

The Ministry is imploring persons with symptoms to visit the doctor and avoid taking aspirin, diclofenac, ibuprofen or any of the medications/pain relievers known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).  These drugs, when used to treat dengue fever, have been known to increase the severity of the disease.

 

Release: JIS
Contact: Garfield L. Angus

Photo Captions:

Header: Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (right), addresses a town hall  on efforts to reduce the transmission of dengue fever, held on Thursday (February 7), at the HEART Trust/NTA’s College of Construction Services in Portmore, St. Catherine. In the background are Chief Public Health Inspector for the parish, Greyson Hutchinson (left); and Dr. Phillip Coombs, who is attached to the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH).

Insert: Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (right), shakes hands with Dr. Phillip Coombs of the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH), after addressing a town hall on efforts to reduce the transmission of dengue fever, held on Thursday (February 7), at the HEART Trust/NTA’s College of Construction Services in Portmore, St. Catherine,

 

Photos by Rudranath Fraser  

 

 

 

 

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Caribbean News

CARPHA Progresses to Eligibility for the First Disbursement of Pandemic Funding

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Following a landmark Public Signing Ceremony for the Pandemic Fund (PF) Technical Cooperation Agreement (“Reducing the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Prevention, Preparedness, and Response” [RG-T4387] Project) on December 14, 2023, in Trinidad, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) continues to progress towards the start of implementation.

 CARPHA fulfilled the IDB’s nine conditions prior to first disbursement, achieving full eligibility on March 15, 2024, and is now eligible for the first disbursement. This milestone achievement in just 3 months after the signing speaks to the commitment of both CARPHA, the Executing Agency, and IDB, the Implementing Entity, toward the regional PF project with the objective of supporting the reduction of the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean by building pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPR) surveillance & early-warning systems (EWS), laboratory systems and workforce capacity, regionally at CARPHA and in countries.

Since the signing of the Technical Cooperation Agreement and as part of the conditions prior to first disbursement, CARPHA has achieved the following key outputs (i) the development of the PF Project Operations Manual, Multi-annual Execution Plan, Procurement Plan, Financial Plan, Procedure for CARPHA’s Financial Reporting System; (ii) vacancy announcements for two tranches of consultants with the subsequent hiring of five (Technical Coordinator, Financial Specialist, Procurement Specialist, Operations Officer and Project Operations Coordinator) and (iii) the establishment of the Project Execution Unit (PEU) and Project Execution Steering Committee (PESC). The dedicated PEU will be responsible for execution according to its planned timelines, which will be led by the Dr. Lisa Indar, the Project Director (CARPHA’s Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control Division).

 CARPHA, as the lead regional public health agency and an expression of Caribbean Cooperation in Health is mandated by its Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) to support its 26 CARPHA Member States (CMS) in bolstering national systems and coordinating regional response to public health threats. The Agency works closely with regional and international agencies and uses regional mechanisms, surveillance systems, and networks for coordinating its public health response work.

In July 2023, the PF Governing Board announced that CARPHA’s regional entity proposal, entitled ‘Reducing the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Strengthened Integrated Early Warning Surveillance, Laboratory Systems and Workforce Development’ was successfully selected for the first round of financing. It was one of only 19 proposals selected from over 300 submissions and the only regional project. The three priority areas in the proposal are: (i) Comprehensive disease surveillance and EWS, (ii) Laboratory systems and (iii) Human resources and public health and community workforce capacity.

This project is expected to begin implementation in March 2024, starting off with a blended onboarding session. A Stakeholder Meeting with countries is tentatively planned for July 2024.

CARPHA remains dedicated to working together with the IDB, CARPHA Member States and the Pandemic Fund to successfully implement the regional proposal geared toward reducing the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean.

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Caribbean News

Men who had Murdered Man, Marley Higgs’ cell phone face Court

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Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Correspondent

The prosecution intends to try two young North Caicos men, both age 21 for the offense of possession of property of a murdered man, property that was stolen and landed in their possession.

The phone belonged to Peureton ‘Marley’ Higgs, who is believed to have been an innocent gunned down at his apartment complex in the Glass Shack area in a spray of bullets on February 2 that killed another man and wounded two others, including a ten-year-old little girl.

The cell phone was described as white in colour, an iPhone, in a hard black case. 

On Monday, March 18th, JEFFVANO HANDFIELD of North Caicos pleaded not guilty to the offense, and the matter was adjourned to April 2024. He was granted bail in the matter.

A second North Caicos man was charged similarly.  

SARENO CAPELLAN aka, Kino Williams is the second individual brought before the court pertaining to the said cellphone. He appeared in court a week after JEFFVANO HANDFIELD, the date being Monday March 25th 2024.

The case for the Crown is that both men sometime in February of this year possessed the cellphone knowing or suspecting it to be stolen property.

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Caribbean News

Supreme Court Closed for Easter

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NOTICE is hereby given that the Easter Recess shall commence on Friday 29th April, 2024 and end on Friday 5th April, 2024. During the Easter Recess Judge Selochan will be available to deal only with matters that are urgent or require prompt attention.

Court Business During the Easter Recess

A person who wishes to have a matter heard during the recess must file a certificate of urgency along with an affidavit, which must set out the reasons why the matter is urgent or requires prompt attention. The matter will not be listed during the recess unless the Judge deems it fit for urgent hearing.

Opening Hours During the Easter Holiday

The Supreme Court’s last sitting day for the first term is Thursday 28th March, 2024. The Court will officially resume sittings on Monday 8th April, 2024. The Supreme Court Offices in both Grand Turk and Providenciales will continue to operate while the Court is not sitting during the recess.

The Court Office will be closed on the following public holidays:

  • Friday 29th March, 2024 (Good Friday) CLOSED
  • Monday 1st April, 2024 (Easter Monday) CLOSED

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