Heat health warning issued as bush fires rise and Cuban nurses prepare to return

Authorities are urging Jamaicans to take precautions against heat-related illness as temperatures run hotter than usual, while the Jamaica Fire Brigade reports a marked increase in bush fires across several parishes in recent weeks.

Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton said on Tuesday that excessive heat poses a serious public health risk, consistent with climate-related warming. He advised older persons and those with chronic conditions to avoid direct sun exposure and to hydrate properly, noting that alcohol, energy drinks and sugary beverages do not provide effective hydration. Meteorologist Javoy Sawyers linked the conditions to above-average tropical Atlantic sea surface temperatures and frequent Sahara dust incursions, with overnight lows in some areas reaching 26 to 28 degrees Celsius rather than the usual 22 to 24. Medical doctor Lucian Jones warned that extreme heat can cause fatal heat stroke and encouraged limiting outdoor activity for children during peak hours.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Roland Walters of the Jamaica Fire Brigade's Area Two, covering Trelawny, St. Ann, St. Mary and Portland, said divisions may respond to up to ten bush fires daily. Firefighters recently tackled separate major blazes in St. James and Trelawny. Walters cautioned against slash-and-burn farming, overloading electrical circuits with cooling devices, and using gasoline to reignite fires, and urged parents to keep matches and lighters away from children.

On staffing, Dr. Tufton told CVM News that Cuban healthcare professionals who reapplied after the bilateral programme ended in March could resume or be reassigned to posts they previously held, with the government paying their salaries directly. He said about 42 nurses remained on the island while nearly 50 more have applied, potentially bringing the total close to 100. Eighty-seven-year-old Lerene Grant, who travelled from St. Catherine to St. Joseph's Hospital seeking an update on cataract surgery delayed since nurses departed, said she welcomed news of their possible return.

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness said the social housing programme is being refocused to support recovery from Hurricane Melissa while maintaining a target of 6,000 homes, with priority given to parishes hardest hit, including St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, St. James and Trelawny. Modular semi-permanent units will be deployed and monitored for durability in local conditions.

Finance and Public Service Minister Fayval Williams, speaking at an MSME procurement integration event in Montego Bay, St. James, said billions of dollars in annual government spending should drive enterprise growth and that set-aside procurement rules require formal supplier registration. At Gordon House on Tuesday, Parliament's Internal and External Affairs Committee debated whether meetings should be held proactively or reactively on foreign policy, national security and justice matters, with chair Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn stating both approaches are possible.

The National Water Commission said phased works under the Western Water Resilience Improvement Project are intended to address long-standing supply complaints, with the Greenwood to Montego Bay segment targeted for completion by summer 2028.