The Jamaica Government has earmarked $50 million to establish a fund to provide support for families of babies born with Zika-related microcephaly. Minister of Health, Dr. Christopher Tufton said the fund will be used to support interventions to assist families to cope with the condition in which babies are born with underdeveloped brains and small heads.
The establishment of the fund is in addition to other measures implemented by the Government to combat Zika and its effects.
There have been almost 40 confirmed cases of pregnant women with the Zika virus and 501 suspected cases since January this year in Jamaica.
The Ministry of Health is providing free Zika testing of pregnant women.
The WHO has advised women living in areas where Zika transmission is ongoing to consider delaying pregnancy.
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