In commemoration of International Women’s Day, Barbados TODAY highlighted women working in various fields – from health to telecoms, from development to politics – as they share their sources of success and triumph over challenges they have encountered. Here is an interview with Rachel DeGale, CEO of BioConnect Medical Centre, about her journey.

When it comes to women’s health, Rachel DeGale is comfortable with the taboo.

After spending nearly two decades in fertility health, Rachel is now the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of BioConnect Medical Centre, a game-changing health and wellness facility that focusses on holistic perimenopause and menopause treatments. Dr. Roberta Corona is the other co-founder and Medical Director.

“Any woman that has the privilege of aging is going to go through menopause. Some women are going to sail through it, and some women are going to really struggle, but at the end of the day, you don’t get a medal for slogging it through! You can’t make it to the finish line by not reaching out and getting help.”

To spend a minute with Rachel is to know she is dynamic, passionate and driven to do the best she can for their clients. So perhaps it was no surprise when she shared her own issues with reaching out for help during her ongoing battle with perimenopause.

The 47-year-old credits her turnaround to Dr. Corona’s support and treatment as well as working with the “best team ever.”
How does she think they would describe her as a leader? Firm, but fair.

“I have learned that how I lead apparently is quite unique. I don’t believe as women in leadership… that we have to be boisterous; we don’t have to be ‘little men’. I do believe that we can be authentically who we are as people. I remember my old boss used to say all that time that trust is earned, and she was absolutely correct in that you have to earn your team’s trust. How do you do that? You have their back, from the little details of knowing what’s happening in their life to the big things.”

Rachel believes accelerating action comes from education and awareness about women’s health at all stages and phases. And perhaps that is what allows you to be excited about what’s next.

“When people are talking about menopause they can come with a shroud of negativity, and it doesn’t have to be like that. There are solutions out there.”

This article appeared in the March 8 International Women’s Day Magazine by Barbados Today. View the magazine here.

The post Rachel DeGale: Innovating Healthcare at BioConnect Medical Centre appeared first on Barbados Today.

PAHO ultra-portable telehealth kit brings specialist primary healthcare services to remote communities in the Americas

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GFNC’s annual surveys of daycare children and biennial assessments of preschoolers help identify children who need support 

View the full post GFNC Survey Daycare and Pre-School results on NOW Grenada.

The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) says Guyana is careful not to offend the United States (US) over concerns that Cuban healthcare workers were being subjected to forced labour because of Washington’s unequivocal support against a Venezuelan invasion over the Essequibo Region. “Guyana faces a greater risk than other Caribbean territories of offending the US ...

President Irfaan Ali on Saturday announced that efforts were underway to get children to spend less time on their mobile phones and electronic devices and instead engage in more sports and physical activity to promote a healthier lifestyle. “Even if we have to put free WiFi in the park to get the children out of ...

OPEN LETTER
The Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, Q.C., M.P.
Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment
And
The Honourable Ryan R. Straughn, M.P.
Minister in the Ministry of Finance Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment

15 March, 2024

Dear The Honourable Mia Amor Mottley and The Honourable Ryan R. Straughn,

The Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) in partnership with our member organisation, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados and the Barbados Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition, extends its congratulations to the Government of Barbados for its bold decision to implement a 20 percent excise tax on snacks high in salt and to remove import duties and VAT on selected fruits and vegetables, effective June 1st, 2025.

The Caribbean has the highest noncommunicable disease (NCD) mortality rate in the Americas, with 40 percent of these deaths occurring prematurely before the age of 70. This disproportionately affects the most productive members of society, leading to severe socioeconomic consequences, particularly as aging populations place increasing strain on already vulnerable economies. According to data from the Health of the Nation Survey (2011), 41 percent of Barbadian adults aged 25 and older are diagnosed with high blood pressure and more than half of all men and women above the age of 45 were hypertensive.

The introduction of the excise tax on snacks with high salt content is a proactive measure aimed at reducing the consumption of unhealthy, ultra-processed products high in salt, sugar and fat, while the removal of taxes on fruits and vegetables will improve affordability and accessibility to healthier dietary options for all citizens. We are also encouraged by the Government of Barbados’ additional commitment of $1 million each year to support public education on NCDs. These interventions, which form a broader strategy to tackle the pressing health and economic impacts of obesity and NCDs in Barbados, complement the 20 percent tax on sugar-sweetened beverages and the National School Nutrition Policy, These policy measures align with the Declaration of Mission Barbados, which sets a target of achieving a 50 percent reduction in new cases of NCDs. Additionally they reflect the government’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal 3.4, which aims to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one-third by 2030.

As we build on the progress of the 2007 Port-of-Spain Declaration and look ahead to the Fourth United Nations High-Level Meeting (HLM4) on NCDs in September, strong leadership remains essential in reducing the NCD burden and improving the quality of life for those affected. We trust that the Government of Barbados will continue to demonstrate strong leadership and serve as a model for CARICOM by prioritizing the implementation of cost-effective high-impact interventions outlined in the WHO Best Buys and other evidence-based strategies for NCD prevention.

Signed 

The President and Board of Directors of the Healthy Caribbean Coalition

The post Open Letter to The Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, Q.C., M.P. appeared first on Healthy Caribbean Coalition.

Dr. Evangelina Soler, a pulmonologist, assures us that there is no doubt about the increase in respiratory processes. However, she insists that it is what is expected this season.

These are stationary viruses, such as influenza, which have resulted in an infectious rebound that should be monitored.

“Most of the patients who come to our clinic are affected by the influenza virus,” said the health professional when interviewed by Hoy. Other viruses are also occurring in the child population, such as the OC43 variant of the coronavirus. It mainly affects the little ones.

Soler says that professionals are observing lung conditions in young patients in their consultations. This infection produces bilateral infiltrates in the lungs and is quite different from what is usually seen, as previously, it produced little pathogenicity.

Recommendations

Older adults and minors should wash their hands properly and avoid contact with sick people with respiratory processes. People who have health conditions such as kidney or cardiovascular conditions should avoid contact with those who have respiratory infections.

The same goes for those with diabetes, liver disease, and pulmonological problems. They should wash their hands and take care of their health.

Other specialists

Experts agree that viruses such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and seasonal coronaviruses persist in respiratory infections.

This week, Dr. Robert Paulino said that these viral illnesses can be prolonged due to variability in temperature and humidity. These increasingly aggressive viruses require continuous vigilance. Every day, specialists report more cases of respiratory conditions.

For specialists, viral diseases in the northern hemisphere require preventive measures that must be adopted in the Dominican Republic this year to avoid outbreaks. The seasonal shift from winter to spring in the northern hemisphere marks a period of environmental transition that influences infectious disease dynamics.

More incidence

For specialists in these diseases, the seasonal transition shows increased respiratory and arboviral viral infections. Arbovirals at the arrival of spring and the increase in humidity create conditions conducive to the proliferation of diseases.

Santo Domingo — In this Bulletin, the Directorate of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Public Health shows zero notification of dengue cases, with a cumulative total of 22 cases registered this year. Last year, 601 cases of dengue fever were reported. The current incidence of the disease stands at 1.18, a reduction of 96 percent.

One case of malaria, and the cumulative number of cases of the disease stands at 77. The incidence rate is 4.14 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, showing a 65 percent reduction.

The notification of cholera cases has remained at zero, so the incidence remains at 0.00 percent. Zero cases of leptospirosis have been reported, for a cumulative total of 16 cases to date and an incidence of 0.87. No instances of COVID-19 have been reported, so the incidence remains at 0.87.

For this Epidemiological Week 09, the circulation of the virus Influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 was detected, and for influenza.

Two cases of acute pesticide poisoning were reported, a resident of the province of Santiago, the cumulative total up to the week is 40 cases. The distribution of cases by municipality of residence is 45 percent (18) in San Francisco de Macorís, 7.5 percent in La Vega, and 5 percent in Jima Abajo.

Maternal and infant deaths

In the SE-09, four maternal deaths of Dominican women have been reported. The cumulative total for this indicator is 31 deaths, while 36 have been reported so far this year. In terms of infant deaths, 20 deaths have been reported, while 30 were reported in 2024, reflecting a decrease in these indicators.

View the full post CARPHA encourages early detection towards preventing kidney disease in Caribbean on NOW Grenada.