Clean-up at Bath Health Centre

BATH, St Thomas -- A major clean-up exercise is now underway at the Bath Health Centre in St Thomas, which has been affected by the recent flood rains.

Acting chief public health inspector in St Thomas, Verol Denton, told JIS News that records and a new dental chair at the clinic have been damaged, while the nurses' living quarters located nearby was also flooded. "This is the most affected health facility in the parish," he said.

Children's Home receives computers

MONTEGO BAY, St James -- The Blossom Gardens Children's Home in Montego Bay has received two computers, workstations, printers and six emergency lights valued at approximately $150,000 from the Kiwanis Club of Providence.

Joan Johnson, club president, made the presentation Tuesday at the home. She noted that the gesture was in keeping with the Kiwanis International theme: 'Young Children, Our Priority'.

Agriculture gets a battering in St Ann

OCHO RIOS, St Ann -- Agricultural crops in St Ann have received a battering from the torrential rains which have been lashing the island since May 22.

Alvin Clarke, parish co-ordinator for the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management in St Ann, told JIS News that in most of the areas, farmers have lost all their crops, which, he said, were worth millions of dollars. He said that the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) was now carrying out an assessment of the damage.

Central Jamaica hit hard by flooding

MANDEVILLE, Manchester -- Scores of persons from central Jamaica have reported significant losses to property, livestock and agriculture as a result of the persistent rains affecting the island over the past week.

Hilary Bromfield, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) parish disaster co-ordinator for Manchester, said that more than 50 families from various communities have requested assistance from her office.

"We have had to open a shelter at the Broadleaf New Testament Church of God on account of several families being flooded out... the good thing is that the members of the parish disaster committee have been on the ball," she said.

Bromfield said Porus, Trinity, Berrydale and Harmons have also been affected by the floods.

Help for flood-affected indigent persons in St Ann

OCHO RIOS, St Ann -- Sanitary facilities will be constructed for indigent persons in the communities of Douglas Castle, Exchange and Steer Town in St Ann who have been affected by the heavy rainfall which began on May 22.

Chief public health inspector for St Ann, Stanford Reid, told JIS News that construction of the facilities "will begin within the next four to five weeks".

Reid said that a survey of the parish had also revealed that Parry Town, White River, Ocho Rios and Walkerswood are among the main communities that have suffered damage from the flood rains.