Health Archives - Barbados Today
Harsh reality
The nation’s ageing population are now grappling with the harsh consequences of failing to plan for their retirement years.
According to the president of the Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP), Marilyn Rice-Bowen, a canvas of their membership has highlighted concerns about insufficient pension funds for many retirees, with some receiving less than $1 000 per month as inflation eats into their pensions.
“And what a lot, quite a few seniors always say to us [is] if they only knew… and then there were situations where people would say to us that they didn’t expect to live to 60, 65. When they were 26 and 28, they didn’t expect to live to 60 and 65, so they never planned. In addition to that, there are people who just simply didn’t plan for retirement,” she said over the weekend at the launch of BARP’s Towards 2050 conference which will be held on April 6.
Rice-Bowen said many seniors had not adequately prepared for retirement, leading to financial strain in their later years.
“As we speak now of the 40s, the 40s to 59s, that’s why it’s so important that we are driving them. We’re not going to bully but we are going to drive them, we’re going to encourage them to plan. That’s why it’s so important they plan because if they do not plan, they’re going to find themselves in a really strange and very uncomfortable space when they reach our age, my age.”
Her comments were supported by Elder Affairs Minister Kirk Humphrey, who underscored the importance of incentivising retirement planning but emphasised the need for individual responsibility.
“But I do think that the whole planning process requires everybody. I think people need to plan individually. And I do think it makes sense to incentivise, from the public sector standpoint, persons to be able to do it. It just makes sense,” he said. “I think you have to find a way to balance what you can afford financially and what society needs to be able to afford. But I anticipate and I look forward to the day when we’re in a position to do something like that again.”
Rice-Bowen stressed the importance of planning and urged individuals to attend seminars and seek guidance on retirement planning, emphasising the need for proactive financial management.
“So, rather than say, ‘we can wait to see if the government gives me a tax incentive for the rebate on pension plans’, if it’s not happening, go ahead, and put your money in your pension plan because you will be the beneficiary. If it does happen along the way, well, it’s gravy. But do not sit and wait for the frills. Get involved and do it yourself,” she urged.
Meanwhile, Humphrey said the social services in Barbados have had to evolve as a result of the challenges posed by an ageing population.
According to him, Barbados has been witnessing a notable increase in the number of older individuals seeking support from welfare services, adding that his Ministry of People’s Empowerment and Elder Affairs, which is responsible for social services on the island, is aware of the need for proactive measures to address this trend.
“The shifting, the transition in society is impacting all the delivery of social services. I think the other thing that we have to be mindful of in social services is that the cost of caring for a child is not the same as the cost of caring for an older person,” he said.
“If you’re caring for a senior person, it costs maybe two or three times as much. We’re going to anticipate that even our budget has to increase because caring for older persons is a lot more expensive. The capacity to care is going to shift.”
(RG)
The post Harsh reality appeared first on Barbados Today.
1 year 4 months ago
Health, Local News
Merck’s next big thing is (probably) on the way
New biotech newsletter launching this Thursday. Don’t miss out.
Hello, everyone. Damian here with a look at a pivotal FDA approval, good news for a small biotech company, and why not all buyouts are worth writing home about.
New biotech newsletter launching this Thursday. Don’t miss out.
Hello, everyone. Damian here with a look at a pivotal FDA approval, good news for a small biotech company, and why not all buyouts are worth writing home about.
1 year 4 months ago
Biotech, Business, Health, Pharma, Politics, The Readout, Biotech, biotechnology, drug development, drug prices, drug pricing, finance, genetics, government agencies, Pharmaceuticals, Research
CEMDOE presents innovative nursing training program
Santo Domingo.- To propel holistic growth in nursing, the Diabetes, Obesity, and Specialties Medical Center (CEMDOE) has launched a training initiative. This program focuses on bolstering competencies, spanning technical proficiency and interpersonal abilities, in line with its recently introduced Nursing Management Model.
Santo Domingo.- To propel holistic growth in nursing, the Diabetes, Obesity, and Specialties Medical Center (CEMDOE) has launched a training initiative. This program focuses on bolstering competencies, spanning technical proficiency and interpersonal abilities, in line with its recently introduced Nursing Management Model.
Comprising eight core pillars, the program features five modules dedicated to fostering these competencies, ensuring that CEMDOE’s nursing personnel maintain a standard of excellence in care provision. This initiative adheres to the benchmarks set by the Joint Commission International, underscoring the medical center’s commitment to upholding international standards of quality and patient safety.
The conceptualization and design of this program were spearheaded by Dr. Berniza Calderón, Senior Research Manager; Damaris Durán, Nursing Manager; Gricely Pozo, Medical Director; Maril Núñez, Director of Human Management and Transformation; and Nilaine Alejo, Senior Human Management Manager.
“This launch signifies a significant stride in our continuous mission to enhance the healthcare experience, acknowledging wholeheartedly the pivotal role that nurses play in attending to the needs of our patients and their families,” elucidated Dr. Calderón.
Additionally, the specialist underscored that in the Dominican Republic, the ratio stands at fewer than 4 nurses for every 10,000 inhabitants, with only 30% of those employed in the healthcare sector possessing a university degree.
As for the supplementary workshops integrated into the program, they encompass a diverse array of topics, including care plan design, the significance of reporting and analyzing patient safety incidents, tools for patient and family education, evidence-based nursing practices, and the provision of compassionate care.
CEMDOE undertakes this endeavor with the overarching objective of elevating the quality of care received by its patients throughout the entirety of their healthcare journey, recognizing the indispensable role that nursing staff play in facilitating this process.
1 year 4 months ago
Health, CEMDOE, diabetes, nursing personnel, Obesity, Specialties Medical Center
Health Archives - Barbados Today
Nurses urge speeded-up compact talks
The Barbados Nurses Association (BNA) has urged the government to resume national compact negotiations swiftly while welcoming long leave and uniform allowances announced in Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s Budget.
“The BNA appreciates the inclusion of provisions for long leave benefits and the uniform allowance….It is heartening to see efforts being made to recognise and support nurses who play a vital role in maintaining the health and well-being of the community,” BNA President Dr Fay Parris told Barbados TODAY.
“The BNA eagerly anticipates the swift continuation of national compact negotiations. This collaborative endeavour between the government and the BNA is significant in addressing critical issues that impact healthcare professionals.”
Parris explained the compact discussions stem from the BNA’s 87th Annual General Meeting last month. Recommendations included establishing two nursing levels – Registered Nurse and Senior Registered Nurse – and salary restructuring and non-financial incentives.
“These comprehensive compact strategies aim to provide incentives to enhance nurse retention and ultimately contribute to a more robust healthcare system,” she said.
In the Budget speech last week, Mottley said nurses with over 15 years of continuous service would benefit from longer vacation leave. She also announced a National Compact with the BNA to recruit and retain nurses through various financial, professional, and personal development incentives.
“We anticipate that this compact…will result in more nurses opting to remain in the health sector at home and to continue providing quality care,” Mottley said. She added that as “an act of good faith”, nurses will receive an additional six weeks’ vacation after 15 years of service.
Addressing uniform delays, the prime minister pledged her administration would provide nurses with a uniform allowance.
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1 year 4 months ago
Health, Local News
Secrets of Taylor Swift's incredible figure revealed as she shows off her toned physique on Bahamas getaway with Travis Kelce
The pop star, 34, is currently taking a break from the international leg of her sold-out tour and has been pictured enjoying a romantic getaway with boyfriend Travis Kelce in the Bahamas.
The pop star, 34, is currently taking a break from the international leg of her sold-out tour and has been pictured enjoying a romantic getaway with boyfriend Travis Kelce in the Bahamas.
1 year 4 months ago
Hospitals make leadership appointments
Saint John of God Hospital and Tallaght University Hospital appoint a new CEO and Chair, respectively
The post Hospitals make leadership appointments appeared first on Irish Medical Times.
Saint John of God Hospital and Tallaght University Hospital appoint a new CEO and Chair, respectively
The post Hospitals make leadership appointments appeared first on Irish Medical Times.
1 year 4 months ago
News, appointments, Damien O’Dowd, Prof Anne-Marie Brady, Saint John of God Hospital, Tallaght University Hospital
Medical News, Health News Latest, Medical News Today - Medical Dialogues |
Bharat Biotech begins clinical trial of Tuberculosis vaccine MTBVAC in India
Hyderabad: Clinical trials of MTBVAC, the Spanish tuberculosis vaccine, the first live attenuated vaccine of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from a human, have been started in India, the most populated country in the world and the one with the highest number of cases of this infectious disease.
The trials are carried out by Bharat Biotech in close collaboration with Biofabri.
Trials to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of MTBVAC have started with a
pivotal safety, immunogenicity and efficacy trial planned to start in 2025.
After more than three decades of research, Esteban Rodriguez, CEO of Biofabri
says, "It is a giant step to test in adults and adolescents in the country where
28% of the world’s TB cases accumulate and concludes that more effort and
funding is needed to combat TB, which remains one of the world’s leading
infectious causes of death, especially in India."
Dr. Krishna Ella, Executive Chairman Bharat Biotech added, “Our quest for a
more effective vaccine against Tuberculosis received a big boost, with
clinical trials in India. Our goal to develop TB vaccines to prevent disease in adults
and adolescents has taken a big step. We are honoured to partner with
BioFabri, Dr. Esteban Rodriguez and Dr. Carlos Martin in this noble effort to
reinvent TB vaccines.”
As per the release, the MTBVAC vaccine has passed several milestones before entering clinical
trials in India. The first is that after the recent completion of a Phase2 dose finding trial, a
double-blind, controlled Phase3 clinical trial in newborns has started in 2023,
comparing the vaccine with the current BCG vaccine. 7,000 newborns from South
Africa, 60 from Madagascar and 60 from Senegal will be vaccinated. To date,
more than 1,900 babies have been vaccinated. The aim is to assess the immunogenicity and efficacy of MTBVAC which is
administered intradermally to infants on the first day of life.
Vaccination began at a time of setback in the global fight against TB. Health
restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in
infections and a decrease in diagnosis and treatment. As a result, annual TB
deaths have risen to over 1.6 million.
This Phase3 neonatal project, partially funded by the European Union through its
EDCTP (European & Development Countries Clinical Trial Partnership)
programme, is being coordinated by Biofabri, as part of a consortium that also
includes the University of Zaragoza (Unizar), TuBerculosis Vaccine Initiative
(TBVI), The University of Cape Town (UCT)/SATVI, Wits VIDA Health Consortium
(WHC), Stellenbosch University (SUN-FAMCRU), Enhancing Care Foundation
(ECF), Center de Recherche Biomedicale Espoir Pour La Santé (CRB-EPLS,
Senegal) and Institut Pasteur de Madagascar (IPM).
"Another important milestone is that after completing a dose escalation trial in HIV
uninfected adults, a Phase2 study in HIV infected adults has started in 2024 to
determine whether MTBVAC is safe in this population. This ongoing trial at 16
sites in South Africa – involving the vaccination of 276 adults – is evaluating safety and immunogenicity in HIV-negative and HIV-positive adults and adolescents
vaccinated with MTBVAC," the release stated.
A Phase2b efficacy study in adolescents and adults is planned to start in the
second half of 2024 in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The studies in adolescents and adults in Sub-Saharan African are led by the
American institution IAVI. The Phase2 HIV safety study is carried out by HIV
Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) and is funded by the Division of AIDS (DAIDS),
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes
of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The
Phase2b efficacy study will be carried out by IAVI and will be funded by BMGF
and Open Philanthropy.
This vaccine was developed in the laboratory of the University of
Zaragoza, which has been part of CIBERES since its creation, in collaboration
with Dr Brigitte Gicquel of the Pasteur Institute in Paris. The University of
Zaragoza has the Spanish biotechnology company BIOFABRI as an industrial
partner.
Read also: Bharat Biotech Gets CDSCO Panel Nod To Manufacture Rotavirus Vaccine Live Attenuated, Oral
1 year 4 months ago
News,Industry,Pharma News,Latest Industry News
Puerto Rico declares epidemic after spike in dengue cases - The Associated Press
- Puerto Rico declares epidemic after spike in dengue cases The Associated Press
- Puerto Rico has declared an epidemic following a sharp rise in dengue cases PBS NewsHour
- Dengue fever alert: Puerto Rico declares epidemic USA TODAY
- Puerto Rico's Mosquitoes Continue Carrying Dengue and Zika Viruses Precision Vaccinations
- Pandemic threat disease grips US as mosquito-borne virus attacks Puerto Rico MSN
1 year 4 months ago
AbbVie Gets Another Ulcerative Colitis Contender via $137M Landos Acquisition
AbbVie is acquiring Landos Biopharma, whose lead drug is a small molecule that takes a novel approach to treating ulcerative colitis. Preliminary proof-of-concept data from a Phase 2 study are expected later this year.
AbbVie is acquiring Landos Biopharma, whose lead drug is a small molecule that takes a novel approach to treating ulcerative colitis. Preliminary proof-of-concept data from a Phase 2 study are expected later this year.
1 year 4 months ago
BioPharma, Pharma, Top Story, AbbVie, biopharma nl, Clinical Trials, immunology, inflammation, inflammatory bowel disease, Landos Biopharma, ulcerative colitis, Virinia
Covid-19 After Action Review can result in improvement
A Covid-19 After Action Review stakeholders’ conference will provide opportunity to collect information that can result in an improvement in public health response in the eventuality of another pandemic
View the full post Covid-19 After Action Review can result in improvement on NOW Grenada.
1 year 4 months ago
Health, cerc, contingent emergency response component, coronavirus, COVID-19, linda straker, phillip telesford, shawn charles, world bank
Caribbean’s sargassum: a source of potential pharmaceuticals
Santo Domingo.- Sargassum arriving on Caribbean islands possesses high levels of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, and antiviral properties, paving the way for the development of new pharmaceutical and cosmetic products derived from this macroalgae.
Santo Domingo.- Sargassum arriving on Caribbean islands possesses high levels of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, and antiviral properties, paving the way for the development of new pharmaceutical and cosmetic products derived from this macroalgae. Idania Rodeiro Guerra, Scientific Vice Director of the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICIMAR) of the Cuban Environment Agency, emphasized this during her keynote lecture titled “Obtaining Bioactive Molecules from Plants and Seaweed: Principles and Case Studies,” delivered as part of her exchange visit to the Technological Institute of Santo Domingo (INTEC).
Rodeiro highlighted that sargassum’s hydroalcoholic extract demonstrates antiherpetic activity by inhibiting the replication of herpes viruses HSV-1 and HSV-2. This discovery paves the way for the development of drugs for oral consumption or topical application, offering a novel alternative for utilizing sargassum resources.
These findings were published in an article by Rodeiro and her team in the renowned scientific journal “Journal of Applied Phycology,” published by Springer-Nature.
Furthermore, Rodeiro presented advancements from studies conducted within the Thalassia project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment (CITMA) in Cuba.
The conference was organized by the Sargasso Interdisciplinary Research Group, led by INTEC research professor Ulises Jáuregui-Haza, who also coordinates the Doctorate in Environmental Sciences at INTEC. The event saw participation from specialists, professors, researchers, and students from the university.
INTEC has been at the forefront of sargassum research, with projects such as the chemical characterization of sargassum found on Dominican Republic beaches, the production and evaluation of sargassum-activated carbon for water decontamination, and the development of organic liquid bio-fertilizers from sargassum, which have shown promising results in the banana industry.
Additionally, an engineering team is working on the Quisqueya Sat project, aimed at developing the first Dominican satellite equipped with a high-resolution camera system. This satellite will forecast the arrival date, location, and volume of sargassum on Caribbean beaches each season, facilitating timely collection and mitigating its impact on tourism in the country and the region.
1 year 4 months ago
Health
Health – Demerara Waves Online News- Guyana
Guyana govt approves private sector recruitment of foreign health-care workers; not limited to Bangladeshis- Todd
Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd on Monday confirmed that government has given approval to a private company to hire health care workers, and said that the company could now do so from any other country not just Bangladesh. “They have amended that…It can be Latin America and the Caribbean, it could be Asia. It is ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd on Monday confirmed that government has given approval to a private company to hire health care workers, and said that the company could now do so from any other country not just Bangladesh. “They have amended that…It can be Latin America and the Caribbean, it could be Asia. It is ...
1 year 4 months ago
Business, Health, News, Politics
Medical News, Health News Latest, Medical News Today - Medical Dialogues |
Vital pulp therapy tied to less postoperative pain compared to single visit root canal treatment: Study
Vital pulp therapy tied to less postoperative pain compared to single-visit root canal treatment suggests a new study published in the JADA
This systematic review investigated whether vital pulp therapy and root canal treatment (RCT) promote different postoperative pain. The authors searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature databases for studies published through June 30, 2022. The authors included randomized clinical trials if they reported on the assessment of postoperative pain after direct pulp capping, partial pulpotomy, pulpotomy, or single-visit RCT. The authors assessed the frequency of no, mild, moderate, and severe postoperative pain. They conducted meta-analyses to compare postoperative pain after full pulpotomy (PULP) and RCT. Results: The qualitative synthesis included 57 studies, and the authors conducted meta-analysis of 3. PULP leads to more asymptomatic cases (relative risk [RR], 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.11; P < .01; I2 = 67%) and to a lower occurrence of mild (RR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.79 to 0.99; P < .04; I2 = 37%) and moderate (RR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.51 to 0.95; P < .02; I2 = 57%) postoperative pain than RCT. The frequency of severe pain was very low for both vital pulp therapy and RCT. Moderate to severe postoperative pain was more common at 48 hours through 72 hours after RCT and up to 36 hours after PULP. Pain intensity after PULP was higher using calcium-enriched material compared with using mineral trioxide aggregate at 12, 18, and 36 hours (P < .001). PULP showed a significantly higher incidence of no pain and a lower incidence of mild and moderate pain than single-visit RCT. Clinical decisions for RCT or PULP should not be based on differences in postoperative pain. When analgesia is indicated, it probably should be limited to a short time after PULP.
Reference:
Signor B, Poli Kopper PM, Aspesi M, Münchow EA, Scarparo RK. Postoperative pain after single-visit root canal treatment or vital pulp therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Dent Assoc. 2024 Feb;155(2):118-137.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2023.11.008. PMID: 38325970.
Keywords:
Vital pulp therapy, postoperative pain, single visit root, canal treatment, Dental pulp capping, endodontics, pulpectomy, pulpotomy, postoperative pain, root canal treatment, JADA
1 year 4 months ago
Dentistry News and Guidelines,Top Medical News,Dentistry News
Health Archives - Barbados Today
Fogging schedule for March 25 – 28
The Ministry of Health and Wellness’ fogging exercise will continue this week, with the exception of Good Friday, which falls on March 29.
The team from the Vector Control Unit will fog areas in St Michael, for the entire week, starting on Monday, March 25, with Erdiston Drive, Sunset Drive, Sunrise Drive, Pine Gardens, Elizabeth Drive, Pine Hill Road, Cedar Hill Road, and surrounding communities.
The following day, Tuesday, March 26, the Unit will visit Lascelles Terrace, Princess Royal Avenue, Pine Plantation Road, and neighbouring districts.
It will then go into Barclays Terrace, Wildey Avenue Nos.1 to 8, Meadow Road, Wharfdale Road, Golden Rock Road, and Newton Crescent, on Wednesday, March 27.
The fogging exercise for the week will conclude on Thursday, March 28, when the Unit sprays Smith Avenue, Main Port Road, Stanley Terrace, Golden Rock Road, and Pine East West Road.
Fogging takes place from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. daily. Householders are reminded to open their windows and doors to allow the spray to enter. Children should not be allowed to play in the fog.
Members of the public are advised that the completion of scheduled fogging activities may be affected by events beyond the Unit’s control. In such circumstances, the Unit will return to communities affected in the soonest possible time.
The post Fogging schedule for March 25 – 28 appeared first on Barbados Today.
1 year 4 months ago
Health, Local News
T&T health minister urges PANCAP to help Caribbean cure HIV
Kaieteur News – Trinidad and Tobago’s Health Minister, Terrence Dyalsingh, at the recently concluded meeting for the National AIDS Programme (NAPS) Managers and key partners urged The Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) to position the Caribbean to develop a cure for the HIV virus. The meeting was organized by PANCAP and was […]
The post T&T health minister urges PANCAP to help Caribbean cure HIV appeared first on Kaieteur News.
1 year 4 months ago
News, managers, NAPS, PANCAP, T&T health Minister, Terrence Dyalsingh
Medical News, Health News Latest, Medical News Today - Medical Dialogues |
Health Bulletin 23/ March/ 2024
Here are the top health news for the day :
PM Modi inaugurates modern hospital built with Indian assistance in Bhutan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the state-of-the-art hospital, Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuk Mother and Child Hospital built with Indian assistance showcasing the robust development cooperation between India and Bhutan.
Here are the top health news for the day :
PM Modi inaugurates modern hospital built with Indian assistance in Bhutan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the state-of-the-art hospital, Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuk Mother and Child Hospital built with Indian assistance showcasing the robust development cooperation between India and Bhutan.
The Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuk Mother and Child Hospital is a state-of-the-art 150-bedded facility that has been built with the assistance of the Government of India in Thimphu.
For more information, click on the link below:
PM Modi Inaugurates Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuk Mother And Child Hospital
Pharma donations to parties: Electoral bonds analysis
With the State Bank of India (SBI) finally submitting crucial data on the electoral bonds to the Election Commission (EC) yesterday, the EC made public a fresh data set of electoral bonds, including their alpha-numeric numbers that can help match their purchasers with the political parties that received the funds.
Two separate lists of the donors and the recipients have been published by the poll panel on its website after the details were submitted to it by the SBI earlier in the day as per a Supreme Court order.
For more information, click on the link below:
Electoral Bonds Data: Which Pharma, Healthcare Company Made Donations To Which Party?Illegal sex determination racket busted in Gujarat
Busting an illegal sex determination racket in Gujarat’s Sabarkantha district, a doctor was recently caught red-handed for allegedly determining the sex of the foetus of a pregnant woman at Drupad Hospital in exchange for Rs 20,000.
Afterwards, the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Cell of Rajasthan on Wednesday arrested the doctor along with an agent following a decoy operation.
For more information, click on the link below:
Illegal Sex Determination Racket Busted In Gujarat, Doctor Arrested
1 year 4 months ago
MDTV,Channels - Medical Dialogues,Health News today MDTV,Health News Today
Health Archives - Barbados Today
Rock your support every day
The creation of an inclusive society where people with various levels of capability and strengths find a place of value is an ideal that we are still a long way from achieving.
March 21 is recognised as World Down Syndrome Day as global attention is drawn to the many children and adults who have the condition caused by triplication of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.
Across various social media, Barbadians from every walk of life were ‘rocking their socks’ in the public awareness campaign dubbed Rock Your Socks.
The colourful show of support for the Down syndrome community makes for compelling images, with the usual clicks and likes. But forgive those among us who harbour a measure of cynicism about this show.
From people working in government offices and private sector entities, from supermarkets to law enforcement offices – the colourful socks were the trend for the day.
We do not desire to diminish in any way the nobility of the cause, for any effort that brings attention to the challenges of those in our community who are marginalised, is a good thing.
The wearing of the colourful socks has blossomed into a very commercialised event, with street vendors and store owners stocking up for the expected boost in sales of the mix-matched socks.
One cannot blame them; this is what business is about. Commercialisation is what maintains Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Old Year’s Night as such valued periods on our calendars.
President of the Barbados Down Syndrome Association (BDSA) Asha Alleyne-Renwick assures that the sales from vendors and merchants ahead of World Down Syndrome Day represent an important source of funding for the BDSA.
Mrs Alleyne-Renwick, a teacher, parent of a child with Down syndrome and respected advocate for those with the condition, has been a vocal cheerleader for this community. While encouraged by the growing support for the day and the Rock Your Socks campaign, Mrs Alleyne-Renwick too wants the businesses that benefit from the boost in sock sales to ensure that some of those funds are channelled to the BDSA.
The advocate appealed: “We are not at that stage yet, and we understand that is a situation that does take time . . . . In the meantime, we are here raising our funds every year for the Rock Your Socks campaign. So, when you see vendors, merchants and individuals selling socks, we appeal to them to give back to the association.”
We too join in that call. Our urging also is to not simply view the day to publish the photographs and soothe our conscience that we have done our social good for the month or the year.
As the BDSA president pointed out: “While it is financially beneficial to some to sell socks, they must realise that they’re only selling socks because there are individuals with Down syndrome living among them and they do have a social and a moral responsibility to give back to the association.”
The cause of the Down syndrome community in Barbados is representative of the challenges confronted by the many disabled and special needs persons among us.
According to the last census data, there are approximately 11 546 Barbadians living with some form of disability. Though there are many examples of those from the disabled community who have reached prominent heights in Barbados, such as former President of the Senate Kerryann Ifill, blind attorney-at-law Janeil Odle, and current Government Senator Andwele Boyce, there are thousands of others who are not so privileged.
As Senator Boyce wrote in a 2021 article published in Barbados TODAY, “Living with any kind of disability in a country like Barbados, where multiple barriers to full inclusion remain, can come with a myriad of challenges, a lack of social and legislative recognition, which necessitate the call for accommodations and adaptation.”
Disabled people in Barbados also require and should demand all the benefits afforded to other Barbadians. They want job opportunities, equal access to housing, health care services, education, public transportation and the full range of services that are provided to others.
The disabled, including those with Down syndrome, do not want tokenism or demonstrations of support that are meant to assuage the consciences of others. They want and deserve full inclusion.
The post Rock your support every day appeared first on Barbados Today.
1 year 4 months ago
Editorial, Health
Medical News, Health News Latest, Medical News Today - Medical Dialogues |
USFDA grants full approval for Abbvie Elahere for certain ovarian cancer patients
North Chicago, Ill.: AbbVie has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted full approval for ELAHERE (mirvetuximab soravtansine-gynx) for the treatment of folate receptor alpha (FRα)-positive, platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal adult cancer patients treated with up to three prior therapies.
Patients with these cancers often present with late-stage disease, undergo surgery and are then treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. They may become resistant to this treatment and require another therapy, such as ELAHERE.
"The full FDA approval of ELAHERE for eligible patients with ovarian cancer represents the culmination of years of work by the ImmunoGen team. ELAHERE is the first and only antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) approved in the U.S. for this difficult-to-treat malignancy," said Roopal Thakkar, M.D., senior vice president, chief medical officer, global therapeutics, AbbVie.
ELAHERE was first granted FDA accelerated approval in November 2022 and the conversion to full approval is based on data from the confirmatory Phase 3 MIRASOL trial. This trial compared ELAHERE to investigator's choice (IC) of chemotherapy in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC) whose tumors express high levels of FRα and who have been treated with up to three prior therapies. The primary endpoint of MIRASOL was progression-free survival (PFS) by investigator assessment and key secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR) and overall survival (OS).
"As the first treatment to show a statistically significant overall survival benefit in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, ELAHERE provides an effective new option for patients with folate receptor alpha positive tumors. These patients previously had very limited options and ELAHERE changes that," said Kathleen Moore, deputy director and associate director of clinical research at the Stephenson Cancer Center of The University of Oklahoma and MIRASOL principal investigator.
MIRASOL is a randomized Phase 3 trial of ELAHERE versus investigator's choice (IC) of single-agent chemotherapy (weekly paclitaxel, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, or topotecan). Eligibility criteria include patients with PROC whose tumors express high levels of FRα, using the Ventana FOLR1 Assay, and who have been treated with up to three prior regimens. The primary endpoint of this trial is progression-free survival (PFS) by investigator assessment. Key secondary endpoints include objective response rate (ORR) and overall survival (OS). The trial enrolled 453 patients. Patients were stratified by number of prior lines of therapy (14% had one prior line of therapy, 39% had two prior lines of therapy, and 47% had three prior lines of therapy) and by IC chemotherapy, with paclitaxel as the most commonly chosen (41%), followed by PLD (36%) and topotecan (23%). 62% of patients received prior bevacizumab; 55% received a prior PARP inhibitor.
Based on current results:
- OS hazard ratio (HR) was 0.67 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.50, 0.88; p=0.0046), representing a 33% reduction in risk of death in the ELAHERE arm compared to the IC chemotherapy arm.
- PFS HR was 0.65 (95% CI: 0.52, 0.81; p<0.0001), representing a 35% reduction in the risk of tumor or cancer progression in the ELAHERE arm compared to IC chemotherapy.
- ELAHERE showed overall fewer Grade 3+ adverse events and a lower rate of discontinuations due to adverse events when compared to the IC chemotherapy control group.
Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecological cancers in the United States. Each year, approximately 20,000 patients are diagnosed. Most patients present with late-stage disease and will typically undergo surgery followed by platinum-based chemotherapy. Unfortunately, the majority of patients eventually develop platinum-resistant disease, which is difficult to treat. In this setting, standard of care single-agent chemotherapies are associated with low response rates, short durations of response, and significant toxicities.
ELAHERE (mirvetuximab soravtansine-gynx) is a first-in-class ADC comprising a folate receptor alpha-binding antibody, cleavable linker, and the maytansinoid payload DM4, a potent tubulin inhibitor designed to kill the targeted cancer cells.
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En California, la cobertura de salud ampliada a inmigrantes choca con las revisiones de Medicaid
OAKLAND, California – El Medi-Cal llegó a Antonio Abundis cuando el conserje más lo necesitaba.
Poco después que Abundis pasara de tener cobertura limitada a una cobertura completa en 2022, bajo la expansión del Medi-Cal de California para adultos mayores sin papeles, fue diagnosticado con leucemia, un tipo de cáncer que afecta las células de la sangre.
OAKLAND, California – El Medi-Cal llegó a Antonio Abundis cuando el conserje más lo necesitaba.
Poco después que Abundis pasara de tener cobertura limitada a una cobertura completa en 2022, bajo la expansión del Medi-Cal de California para adultos mayores sin papeles, fue diagnosticado con leucemia, un tipo de cáncer que afecta las células de la sangre.
El padre de tres hijos, de voz suave, tomó la noticia con calma cuando su médico le dijo que sus análisis de sangre sugerían que su cáncer no estaba en una etapa avanzada. Sus siguientes pasos fueron hacerse más pruebas y tener un plan de tratamiento con un equipo de cáncer en Epic Care, en Emeryville.
Pero todo eso se fue por la borda cuando se presentó en julio pasado para hacerse un análisis de sangre en La Clínica de La Raza en Oakland, y le dijeron que ya no era beneficiario de Medi-Cal.
“Nunca mandaron una carta ni nada de que a mí me la había negado”, dijo Abundis, ahora de 63 años, sobre la pérdida de su cobertura.
Abundis es uno de los cientos de miles de latinos de California que han sido expulsados de Medi-Cal —el programa estatal de Medicaid para personas de bajos ingresos— a medida que los estados reanudaban las verificaciones de elegibilidad, que se habían suspendido en el punto más álgido de la pandemia de covid-19.
El proceso de redeterminación ha afectado de forma desproporcionada a los latinos, que constituyen la mayoría de los beneficiarios de Medi-Cal.
Según el Departamento de Servicios de Salud de California (DHCS), más de 613,000 de los 1,24 millones de residentes que fueron dados de baja se identifican como latinos. Algunos, incluido Abundis, habían obtenido la cobertura poco tiempo antes, cuando el estado comenzó a expandir Medi-Cal para ofrecer cobertura a inmigrantes indocumentados.
El choque entre las políticas estatales y las federales no sólo ha significado un duro golpe para los beneficiarios: también disparó la demanda de asistencia para realizar los trámites de inscripción.
Esto ocurre porque muchas personas son excluidas de Medi-Cal por cuestiones administrativas.
Los grupos de salud que trabajan con las comunidades latinas informan que están inundados de solicitudes de ayuda. Al mismo tiempo, una encuesta patrocinada por el estado sugiere que los hogares hispanos tienen más probabilidades que otros grupos étnicos o raciales de perder la cobertura porque tienen menos información sobre el proceso de renovación.
También pueden tener dificultades para defenderse por sí solos.
Algunos defensores de salud están presionando para que haya una pausa en este proceso. Advierten que las desafiliaciones no solo socavarán los esfuerzos del estado para reducir el número de personas sin seguro, sino que podrían exacerbar las disparidades en salud, especialmente para un grupo étnico que sufrió fuerte el peso de la pandemia.
Un estudio nacional encontró que los latinos en el país tuvieron tres veces más probabilidades de desarrollar covid y el doble de probabilidades de morir a causa de la enfermedad que la población en general, en parte porque tienden a vivir en hogares más hacinados o multigeneracionales y tienen trabajos en servicios, de cara al público.
“Estas dificultades nos colocan a todos como comunidad en un estatus más frágil, en el cual la red de seguridad es aún más significativa”, dijo Seciah Aquino, directora ejecutiva de la Latino Coalition for a Healthy California, una organización de defensa de salud.
La asambleísta Tasha Boerner (demócrata de Encinitas) ha presentado un proyecto de ley que desaceleraría las bajas permitiendo que las personas de 19 años o más mantengan automáticamente su cobertura durante 12 meses, y extendiendo las políticas flexibles de la era pandémica, como no requerir prueba de ingresos para renovar la cobertura en ciertos casos. Esto beneficiaría a los hispanos, que representan casi el 51% de la población de Medi-Cal en comparación con el 40% de la población total del estado.
La oficina del gobernador dijo que no comenta sobre proyectos legislativos que están aún en proceso.
Tony Cava, vocero del Departamento de Servicios de Atención Médica (DHCS), dijo en un correo electrónico que la agencia ha tomado medidas para aumentar el número de personas reinscritas automáticamente en Medi-Cal y no cree que sea necesaria una pausa. La tasa de desafiliación disminuyó un 10% de noviembre a diciembre, apuntó Cava.
Sin embargo, funcionarios estatales reconocen que se podría hacer más para ayudar a las personas a completar sus solicitudes. “Todavía no estamos llegando a ciertos sectores”, dijo Yingjia Huang, subdirectora adjunta de beneficios de atención médica y elegibilidad del DHCS.
California fue el primer estado en ampliar la elegibilidad de Medicaid a todos los inmigrantes que calificaran, sin importar su estatus migratorio, implementándolo gradualmente durante varios años: niños en 2016, adultos jóvenes de 19 a 26 años en 2020, personas de 50 años en adelante en 2022, y todos los adultos restantes este año.
Pero California, como otros estados, reanudó las verificaciones de elegibilidad en abril pasado, y se espera que el proceso continúe hasta mayo. El estado ahora está viendo que las tasas de desafiliación vuelven a los niveles previos a la pandemia, o el 19%-20% de la población de Medi-Cal cada año, según el DHCS.
Jane García, directora ejecutiva de La Clínica de La Raza, testificó ante el Comité de Salud de la Junta de Supervisores del condado de Alameda que las desafiliaciones siguen siendo un desafío, justo cuando su equipo intenta inscribir a residentes recién elegibles. “Es una carga enorme para nuestro personal”, les dijo a los supervisores en enero.
Aunque muchos beneficiarios ya no califican porque sus ingresos aumentaron, muchos más han sido eliminados de los registros por no responder a avisos o devolver documentos. En muchos casos, los paquetes de documentos para renovar la cobertura se enviaron a direcciones antiguas. Muchos se enteran de que perdieron la cobertura recién cuando van al médico.
“Sabían que algo estaba pasando”, dijo Janet Anwar, gerenta de elegibilidad en el Tiburcio Vásquez Health Center, en East Bay. “No sabían exactamente qué era, cómo los iba a afectar hasta que llegó el día y fueron desafiliados. Y estaban haciéndose un chequeo, o programando una cita, y luego… ‘Oye, perdiste tu cobertura'”.
Y la reinscripción es un desafío. Una encuesta patrocinada por el estado publicada el 12 de febrero por la California Health Care Foundation halló que el 30% de los hogares hispanos intentaron completar un formulario de renovación sin suerte, en comparación con el 19% de los hogares blancos no hispanos. Y el 43% de los hispanos informaron que les gustaría volver a comenzar con Medi-Cal, pero no sabían cómo, en comparación con el 32% de las personas en hogares blancos no hispanos.
La familia Abundis está entre las que no saben dónde obtener respuestas a sus preguntas. Aunque la esposa de Abundis envió la documentación de renovación de Medi-Cal para toda la familia en octubre, ella y dos hijos que aún viven con ellos pudieron mantener la cobertura; Abundis fue el único que la perdió.
No ha recibido una explicación de por qué lo sacaron de Medi-Cal ni ha sido notificado de cómo apelar o volver a solicitarlo.
Ahora se preocupa de que tal vez no califique por sí solo según sus ingresos anuales de aproximadamente $36,000, ya que el límite es de $20,121 para un individuo, pero de $41,400 para una familia de cuatro.
Es probable que un navegador pueda verificar si él y su familia califican como hogar para Medi-Cal. Covered California, el mercado de seguros de salud estatal, ofrece planes privados que pueden costar menos de $10 al mes en primas y permite una inscripción especial cuando las personas pierden Medi-Cal o la cobertura del empleador. Pero los inmigrantes que no viven legalmente en el estado no califican para los subsidios de Covered California. Abundis supone que no podrá pagar las primas ni los copagos, por lo que no presentó la solicitud.
Pero Abundis supone que no podrá pagar primas o copagos, así que no ha presentado una solicitud.
Abundis, quien visitó a un médico por primera vez en mayo de 2022 debido a una fatiga sin causa aparente, dolor constante en la espalda y las rodillas, falta de aliento y pérdida de peso inexplicable, teme no poder pagar la atención médica. La Clínica de La Raza, el centro de salud comunitario en donde le hicieron análisis de sangre, lo ayudó ese día a que no tuviera que pagar por adelantado, pero desde entonces dejó de buscar atención médica.
Más de un año después de su diagnóstico, todavía no sabe en qué etapa del cáncer se encuentra ni cuál debería ser su plan de tratamiento. Aunque la detección temprana del cáncer puede aumentar las posibilidades de supervivencia, algunos tipos de leucemia avanzan rápidamente. Sin más pruebas, Abundis no conoce su pronóstico.
Yo estoy mentalizado”, dijo Abundis sobre su cáncer. “Lo que pase, pase”.
Incluso aquellos que buscan ayuda se topan con desafíos. Marisol, una inmigrante mexicana sin papeles, de 53 años, que vive en Richmond, California, intentó restablecer la cobertura durante meses. Aunque el estado experimentó una caída del 26% en las bajas de diciembre a enero, la proporción de latinos a los que se les canceló la cobertura durante ese período permaneció casi igual, lo que sugiere que enfrentan más barreras para la renovación.
Marisol, quien pidió que se usara su nombre de pila por temor a la deportación, también calificó para la cobertura completa de Medi-Cal durante la expansión estatal a todos los inmigrantes de 50 años en adelante.
En diciembre, recibió un paquete informándole que los ingresos de su hogar excedían el umbral de Medi-Cal, algo que ella creyó que era un error. El esposo de Marisol está sin trabajo debido a una lesión en la espalda, dijo, y sus dos hijos mantienen a su familia principalmente con trabajos de medio tiempo en Ross Dress for Less.
Ese mes, Marisol visitó una sucursal de Richmond del Departamento de Empleo y Servicios Humanos del condado de Contra Costa, con la esperanza de hablar con un navegador. En cambio, le dijeron que dejara su documentación y que llamara a un número de teléfono para verificar el estatus de su solicitud.
Desde entonces, llamó muchas veces y pasó horas en espera, pero no ha podido hablar con nadie. Los funcionarios del condado reconocieron tiempos de espera más prolongados debido al aumento de llamadas, y dijeron que el tiempo promedio es de 30 minutos.
“Entendemos la frustración de los miembros de la comunidad cuando a veces tienen dificultades para comunicarse”, escribió la vocera Tish Gallegos en un correo electrónico. Gallegos señaló que el centro de llamadas aumenta la dotación de personal durante las horas pico.
Después que El Tímpano contactara al condado para hacer comentarios, Marisol dijo que un trabajador de elegibilidad la contactó, y le explicó que su familia fue dada de baja porque sus hijos habían presentado impuestos por separado, por lo que el sistema de Medi-Cal determinó su elegibilidad individualmente en lugar de como familia.
El condado reintegró a Marisol y a su familia el 15 de marzo. Marisol dijo que recuperar Medi-Cal fue un final alegre pero agridulce para una lucha de meses, especialmente sabiendo que otras personas son desafiliadas por cuestiones de procedimiento. “Tristemente, tiene que haber presión para que arreglen algo”, dijo.
Jasmine Aguilera de El Tímpano está participando de la Journalism & Women Symposium’s Health Journalism Fellowship, apoyada por The Commonwealth Fund. Vanessa Flores, Katherine Nagasawa e Hiram Alejandro Durán de El Tímpano colaboraron con este artículo.
[Corrección: este artículo se actualizó a la 1:30 pm (ET), el 26 de marzo de 2024, para corregir los detalles sobre la elegibilidad para recibir asistencia financiera para pagar las primas de los seguros. Los inmigrantes que no viven legalmente en California no califican para los subsidios de Covered California].
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.
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