Health Focus: Dr. Christopher Tufton, Health Minister On Tour at new Virology Lab

March 12, 2016March 14, 2016 News Room

Professor Monica Smikle, Head National Influenza Centre (NIC) UWI, Mona

Picture shows left: Dr. Winston De La Haye, actg. Chief Medical Officer (CMO). Dr. Alison Nicholson Head of Microbiology Department, Christopher Tufton, Health Minister right, (blue tie)

A new lab testing facility to identify the H1N1 virus aka Swine Flu has been certified by the USA based CDC to test for the deadly virus with assistance from the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO).

Vision SIC spoke exclusively to the very affable professor after a tour of the upgraded facility. This newly upgraded facility means that samples normally sent overseas to Trinidad at CARPHA, the only Regional Testing Facility for certain viruses, among them Zika and H1N1 strains. Prior to this, Jamaica had to send samples to Trinidad, which took up to two months to be tested.

The facility now certified at UWI Mona will take between 72 hours to two weeks to be tested and results known.

The tour included Dr. Christopher Tufton, newly appointed Health Minister in the PM Holness led Government.

Dr. Tufton said “2000 doses of flu vaccines are in Jamaica for front line staff and a further 3000 have been ordered and should arrive mid March 2016”. The Health Minister wants to protect health staff, one doctor has died so far from ZikV.

Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie is Senior International Correspondent & Photojournalist for Vision Newspaper Canada.