Health minister Dr Fenton Ferguson will be officially handing over the completed Guidelines for the Operation of Funeral Establishments and Mortuaries to operators of funeral homes at a function today at the ministry's head office.

An overview of the guidelines was presented during a meeting led by Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Marion Bullock DuCasse, along with a team of Ministry of Health officials, who met on October 15, 2014 with the operators of funeral homes to brief them on the new guidelines, as well as protocols for the management of Ebola cases.

The discussions also included the management strategy in the event of an Ebola outbreak and the role of these homes.

All stakeholders

Dr Ducasse indicated that the meeting was part of the ministry's efforts to ensure that all stakeholders are involved and aware of what is required of them with respect to the Ebola response strategy.

"The operators of funeral establishments are key stakeholders as part of our Ebola preparedness strategy. We have to ensure that the appropriate standards are being utilised to prevent transmission of not just Ebola, but any other infectious disease," she said.

The objectives of the meeting included raising awareness among owners and directors of funeral establishments on public health monitoring now required for funeral homes, mortuaries and establishments, the requirements for Ebola preparedness and response and obtaining consensus on a framework for collaboration in the event there is an Ebola outbreak in Jamaica.

The ministry will continue to meet with various stakeholders involved in the Ebola preparedness and response strategy and conduct training.