PORTLAND, Jamaica — Residents of Portland now have access to electrocardiogram (ECG) services across all three health districts as the parish’s health department continues to expand and enhance service delivery for its clients.

Medical Officer of Health, Dr Sharon Lewis, informed the recent sitting of the Portland Municipal Corporation that ECG machines are now available at the Port Antonio Health Centre, the Fair Prospect Health Centre and the Buff Bay District Health Centre.

“ECGs are used to check on how well the current is flowing through the heart and can give indication of different types of heart disease. Our clients are, therefore, able to get this valuable health investigation within their health districts,” she said.

Dr Lewis noted, however, that the ECG machine at the Fair Prospect Health Centre — donated by the Caribbean Medical Mission — is currently awaiting a new supply of paper.

“There has been a challenge in sourcing the paper for that machine. So, the provision of ECG services at the Fair Prospect Health Centre is temporarily paused until a new stock of paper for the machine arrives,” the medical officer said.

“Across the three health districts, our clients are given appointments to get their ECGs when a clinician gives them the investigation paper. The appointments are made by the nurses in the curative clinics,” Dr Lewis outlined.

The Portland Health Department successfully carried out a series of activities in February to observe Heart Month, raising awareness of cardiovascular health among parishioners.

— JIS