Kingston, Jamaica, January 18, 2025 – A new state-of-the-art immunohistochemistry (IHC) machine, installed at the National Public Health Laboratory in Kingston, was commissioned into service on Wednesday (January 15).

The unveiling of the VENTANA® BenchMark GX, valued US$419,584.38, is intended to strengthen the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ capabilities in managing breast cancer analysis, diagnosis and treatment.

The Ministry partnered with Roche, one of the largest biotechnical companies globally, for the undertaking.

Portfolio Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, said the acquisition marks a major step in further enhancing Jamaica’s diagnostic capacity, and will support the Ministry’s efforts to improve breast cancer care in the health system.

“The need for diagnostics is a big one in our public health system, and I am prepared to say we are not where we want to be. We have acquired a few mammograms over the last year and there are others that are supposed to be coming in. We… want to ensure that the initial screening, even before lab testing, is easier to assess as we encourage more persons to access,” he stated.

While acknowledging, “We are better off today than we were [approximately] five years ago”, the Minister maintained that “it’s a journey that has to continue if we are to stem the late detection and, unfortunately, the mortality rates in terms of late detection”.

Dr. Tufton emphasised that early diagnosis is critical in providing the necessary treatment and saving lives, noting data indicating that one in 21 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

Dr. Tufton indicated that through the ‘Know Your Numbers’ Initiative, more than 100,000 tests were conducted. The initiative aims to encourage more Jamaicans to get screened for lifestyle diseases.

“We are going to be doing a lot more of that as part of the policy initiative to get more in,” he said, adding that through the Ministry’s mobile health centres, more persons will have access to healthcare services in small towns and communities.

Additionally, Dr. Tufton said more will be done to normalise the concept of screening for lifestyle diseases in order to support early detection and, by extension, a longer and better quality of life, particularly through the Ministry’s primary healthcare reform programme.

Meanwhile, Dr. Tufton said the work undertaken at the National Public Health Laboratory is crucial in providing diagnostics for the tests that have been undertaken through various programmes.

“Right now, on a monthly basis, some 40,000 samples are collected [and] some 200,000 tests are conducted… using approximately 20 machines which essentially provide the critical diagnosis for Jamaicans right across the length and breadth of the country as to their health status, and that is done by 250… employees,” he informed.

Dr. Tufton also indicated that the Ministry is moving towards having adequate diagnostic equipment within all the necessary health facilities as part of “helping or supporting the screening and the determination process as to what the status of the health of an individual is”.

Additionally, he said the Ministry is introducing a policy that will result in the long-term engagement of service contractors to repair and maintain equipment at health facilities.

Meanwhile, Consultant Haemato-oncologist at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH), Dr. Joye Taylor-Houston, said accurate and early cancer diagnosis is essential in the fight against the disease.

“By improving access to tests, we can enhance patient care and outcomes through early diagnosis and, therefore, reduce the risk of the disease’s recurrence,” she stated.

Dr.Taylor-Houston said the oncology community is committed to the cause of providing comprehensive cancer care that meets the needs of patients.

“This new immunohistochemistry equipment will assist us in providing this level of care,” she added.

Disease Area Strategy Director, Roche Caribbean, Central America and Venezuela, Juan Cruz, said the equipment’s provision will enable Jamaica to optimise the national breast cancer testing regime and improve biomarker testing and diagnosis.

“This collaboration is another important step in the country’s commitment to having the required diagnostic capacity for a personalised approach to breast cancer, continuing the work that we began since 2015,” he said.

General Manager, Roche Caribbean, Central America and Venezuela, Alvaro Soto, acknowledged Jamaica being one of the first Caribbean countries to commence local IHC and continue this process to ensure precise cancer diagnostics.

“This milestone underscores the country’s commitment to enhancing healthcare outcomes through advanced technology. Achieving precise and early cancer diagnosis is crucial in the fight against this disease. With this new equipment, we are optimistic about the significant improvements in patient care,” he said.

Roche’s investment in the installation, maintenance and provision of test reagents for the equipment represents 86 per cent of the total cost.

The remaining 13.52 per cent allocated by the Health Ministry is for test reagents.

CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON

Release: JIS

Photo Caption: Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (second right), listens as Senior Medical Technologist at the National Public Health Laboratory in Kingston, Lincoln Fisher (second left), explains the functions of the new state-of-the-art VENTANA® BenchMark GX immunohistochemistry equipment, which was installed at the facility and commissioned into service on Wednesday (January 15). Also listening (from left) are Disease Area Strategy Director, Roche Caribbean, Central America and Venezuela, Juan Cruz; and Director, National Laboratory Services, Dr. Marline Tapper.

Photographer: Michael Sloley

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Friday, 3 January 2025: The Ministry of Health and the Environmental Health Department are aware of concerns regarding the noticeable increase in the presence of flies, particularly on the islands of Grand Turk and Providenciales. This issue has been affecting both residents and visitors, and the Ministry is taking urgent steps to address the situation.

In response to these concerns, several mitigation measures have been implemented. Fly baiting and trapping have been intensified in high-traffic areas such as restaurants, markets, and other public spaces to target and reduce the fly population. Additionally, garbage collection services have been increased to eliminate the backlog of waste, which is contributing to the issue. The Environmental Health Department is working closely with contractors to ensure that waste is collected more frequently and in a timely manner.

To further mitigate the situation, the management of landfill operations is involved in the daily compaction and proper covering of incoming waste at the landfill to prevent flies from accessing decomposing materials. A meeting was held with all service contractors for Grand Turk and Providenciales to address the matter urgently, ensuring that all necessary steps are being taken to mitigate the fly issue effectively.

The Ministry of Health and the Environmental Health Department are committed to maintaining public health and ensuring a clean environment. We encourage the public to cooperate by properly disposing of waste and maintaining cleanliness in their surroundings.

We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as we work to resolve this issue. For further information, please contact the Environmental Health Department at ehd@gov.tc or 338-2143/44.

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Tuesday, 19 December 2024: The Ministry of Health and Human Services urges the public to ensure that their family is fully vaccinated against measles before heading into the winter season. The TCI confirmed two cases of measles in May 2024 and subsequent to this, two cases were identified in the Caribbean region last month.

If you are planning to travel outside of the TCI during the holiday season or otherwise and you are under or unvaccinated, you may be at risk of contracting measles. Check your vaccination status before you go and ensure that you are fully vaccinated before you travel.

Key facts about measles:

• Measles is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus.
• Measles spreads easily between people who are under or unvaccinated.
• The measles mumps rubella (MMR) vaccine is your best defense against Measles. The vaccine is safe, effective, and available for free at government-operated Primary Health Care clinics.
• Symptoms typically start between 10 and 12 days after catching the infection. The signs and symptoms of measles are:
  • A high fever (39.1 degrees Celsius or 101 degrees Fahrenheit)
  • Runny or blocked nose
  • Cough
  • Red, sore, watery eyes
  • Small greyish-white spots with a bluish-white centre inside the mouth, cheek, and throat may appear a few days later.

A rash usually appears 2-4 days after the cold-like symptoms start. The rash starts on the face and behind the ears before spreading to the rest of the body. Measles spreads through:

• Close contact with an infected person
• Droplets from coughs or sneezes
• Touching contaminated surfaces someone has cough or sneezed on

Measles spreads easily within households and in other places where people mix closely together. Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 90% of the people close to that person who are not vaccinated will also become infected. The period when a person can spread the virus most is within 7 to 10 days of exposure but can be up to 14 days.

What should you do to keep yourself, your family and community safe from measles?

1. Check Vaccination Records
   • Ensure that you and your children have received both doses of the MMR vaccine. If you are unsure, contact your healthcare provider or your local clinic immediately.
2. Recognise Symptoms
   • If you or your child develop a fever with a rash, seek medical attention promptly. Early detection helps prevent the spread of measles.
3. Practice Prevention
   • Encourage proper hygiene, such as covering coughs and sneezes and frequent handwashing, to reduce the risk of infection.

While the TCI has high vaccination coverage in the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR) (>95%), unvaccinated persons can still acquire measles through contact with an infectious person.

Have a safe and measles-free holiday season.

For more information or to schedule a vaccination, call 649-338-5469 or visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth/.