JUNOR... you must make sure that your young children are fully immunized

KITSON TOWN, St Catherine -- Effective June 1, the Ministry of Health will begin immunizing all infants under a year old with a new vaccine to protect them from five critical communicable diseases.

There will be no charge for the new vaccine, which will replace the existing one currently given at the island's health centres.

Speaking at the official opening of the new Kitson Town Health Centre in St Catherine on Thursday, Health Minister John Junor said the introduction of the new Penfavalas vaccine will offer complete coverage for the nation's newborns.

It will protect against the communicable diseases: Hepatitis B, Hemosuslus, BCG, Diphtheria and Tetanus. These illnesses, the minister said, pose a great threat to the body's organs, especially the liver.

"You must make sure that your young children are fully immunized against tuberculosis, polio, rubella and measles," the minister urged members of the audience during his address.

He also told the gathering that his administration has begun a pilot project in four parishes, which will provide a full range of adult dentistry, including fillings and other dental procedures.

"We have reduced significantly the number of decayed teeth in our 12 year-olds," said the minister, "but one of the things we are now seeing is an erosion of this in the latter years, as a significant percentage of our adult population is suffering from dental diseases."

Meanwhile, according to the parish's medical officer of health, Dr Dawn Padilla, primary health care began in the community in February 1975 with the staff operating out of a concrete building. However, in the following years, the facility was targetted by vandals who removed several items, including louvre windows and doors.

Apart from being plagued by thieves, there was a serious problem regarding proper sanitation, which resulted in the St Catherine Health Department being served with several closure notices.

The new facility includes four offices, an administrative and records department, pharmacy, male and female rest rooms, storage and waiting areas. The building, which was built at a cost of $8.2 million, was funded by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund.

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