diff --git a/application/controllers/api/v1/system/Message.php b/application/controllers/api/v1/system/Message.php
index bf5deca9f..3302e7c6b 100644
--- a/application/controllers/api/v1/system/Message.php
+++ b/application/controllers/api/v1/system/Message.php
@@ -105,6 +105,25 @@ class Message extends APIv1_Controller
 		}
 	}
 	
+	/**
+	 * @return void
+	 */
+	public function getCountUnreadMessages()
+	{
+		$person_id = $this->get('person_id');
+		
+		if (isset($person_id))
+		{
+			$result = $this->messagelib->getCountUnreadMessages($person_id);
+			
+			$this->response($result, REST_Controller::HTTP_OK);
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			$this->response();
+		}
+	}
+	
 	/**
 	 * @return void
 	 */
diff --git a/application/libraries/MessageLib.php b/application/libraries/MessageLib.php
index 375e4b85c..1e683f857 100644
--- a/application/libraries/MessageLib.php
+++ b/application/libraries/MessageLib.php
@@ -153,6 +153,22 @@ class MessageLib
 		
         return $result;
     }
+    
+    /**
+     * getCountUnreadMessages
+     *
+     * @param   bigint  $person_id   REQUIRED
+     * @return  array
+     */
+    public function getCountUnreadMessages($person_id)
+    {
+        if (!is_numeric($person_id))
+        	return $this->_error('', MSG_ERR_INVALID_RECIPIENTS);
+		
+		$msg = $this->ci->RecipientModel->getCountUnreadMessages($person_id);
+		
+        return $msg;
+    }
 	
     /**
      * updateMessageStatus() - will change status on message for particular user
diff --git a/application/models/system/Recipient_model.php b/application/models/system/Recipient_model.php
index 4039307f8..aa5c9a874 100644
--- a/application/models/system/Recipient_model.php
+++ b/application/models/system/Recipient_model.php
@@ -259,4 +259,26 @@ class Recipient_model extends DB_Model
 		
 		return $this->execQuery($query, $parametersArray);
 	}
+	
+	/**
+	 * Get all unread messages for a person identified by person_id
+	 */
+	public function getCountUnreadMessages($person_id)
+	{
+		// Checks if the operation is permitted by the API caller
+		if (($isEntitled = $this->isEntitled('public.tbl_msg_recipient', PermissionLib::SELECT_RIGHT, FHC_NORIGHT, FHC_MODEL_ERROR)) !== true)
+			return $isEntitled;
+		if (($isEntitled = $this->isEntitled('public.tbl_msg_status', PermissionLib::SELECT_RIGHT, FHC_NORIGHT, FHC_MODEL_ERROR)) !== true)
+			return $isEntitled;
+		
+		$sql = 'SELECT COUNT(r.message_id) AS unreadMessages
+				  FROM public.tbl_msg_recipient r JOIN public.tbl_msg_status s
+					ON (r.message_id = s.message_id AND r.person_id = s.person_id)
+				 WHERE r.person_id = ?
+				   AND s.status = ?';
+		
+		$parametersArray = array($person_id, MSG_STATUS_UNREAD);
+		
+		return $this->execQuery($sql, $parametersArray);
+	}
 }
\ No newline at end of file