Health Ministry preparing for microcephaly cases

Our son Nicholas has microcephaly

The Ministry of Health has begun to prepare for the possibility of babies being born with microcephaly arising from mothers being infected with the Zika virus (ZIKV) during pregnancy.

Microcephaly is a birth defect in which a baby is born with a small head.

These babes can also develop mental conditions that can impair their development.

Director of Emergency, Disaster Management and Special Services in the Ministry, Dr Melody Ennis, says the health ministry, as part of its response to ZIKV, is turning its attention to looking at measures to treat children with microcephaly in the event the country records such a cases.

Ennis says the response programme would also look at providing psycho-social support to families with a baby affected by the condition.

Director, Emergency, Disaster Management and Special Services in the Health Ministry, Dr Melody Ennis

She was speaking today at a press conference and prayer breakfast for the launch of Disaster Preparedness Month 2016.

There have been reports of a suspected case of a pregnant woman being diagnosed with the Zika virus, but the health ministry has declined to comment on the matter.

The ministry has since called a press conference for tomorrow on ZIKV to update the country.

Health Minister, Dr Christopher Tufton, told our news centre that the number of ZIKV cases has increased to 15.

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20160601/health-ministry-preparing-microcephaly-cases