Health trends

AstraZeneca encourages prostate cancer screens

In an effort to educate the public about prostate cancer and to promote early screenings for the condition, AstraZeneca, one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, officially launched its informational marketing campaign, 'Don't Wait. Check Your Prostate. Do It Man!' on Friday, August 31, during a function held at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston.

The event highlighted key elements of the company's publicity plan, which includes adopting a robust media programme with radio and TV interviews, advertising and disseminating editorial content, hosting a special radio segment, 'Ask a urologist', partnering with the Jamaica Cancer Society to offer discounted screenings, and facilitating presentations at select organisations.

During the event, AstraZeneca premiered its 25-minute docu-drama, which will subsequently air on a local TV station, as well as at clinics and doctors offices across the island. The initiative is endorsed by the Ministry of Health and the National Health Fund and will run during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in September.

Source: Publicist for AstraZeneca

Christiana Health Centre upgraded

Upgrade of the Christiana Health Centre in Manchester has been completed by the Jamaica Social investment Fund (JSIF) at a total cost of $36.26 million.

The Type III facility which now features additional examination rooms, a dentist's office, medical staff office, medical records and registration rooms, as well as treatment rooms and laundry facilities, was funded under the Hurricane Dean Emergency Recovery Project (ERP) financed by the World Bank. The Chase Fund contributed $18 million to equip the facility.

The scope of works included the construction of a 543m.sq building. The facility also now includes restrooms for patients and staff, a pharmacy/lab, administrative office and a mental health office. The Christiana health centre serves residents from 16 communities in Manchester and the adjoining parishes of Trelawny and St Ann.

Scarlette Gillings, managing director of JSIF, notes, "the aim of the project is to ensure that the community is in a better position than before Hurricane Dean". To date, JSIF has rehabilitated 19 health centres under ERP Hurricane Dean.

Source: Jamaica Social investment Fund