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In the Dominican Republic, water scarcity and poor water management increase vulnerability to extreme events, affecting more than 30% of the population. The information is in bulletin number 39, issued by the General Directorate of Epidemiology.

According to the official document, the most significant challenges are modernizing water infrastructure and wastewater treatment and improving the efficiency of irrigation and distribution systems.

Vector diseases related to water, sanitation, and hygiene include dengue, arboviral diseases, and lymphatic filariasis, transmitted by mosquitoes such as Aedes aegypti and Culex, as well as schistosomiasis, which involves snails, says the Public Health Agency in the report. Urbanization, poor water management, and climate change favor its spread. Dengue has increased significantly, affecting half of the world’s population. Urban conditions with inadequate water and sanitation services allow mosquitoes to proliferate in reservoirs. To control these diseases, it is essential to improve access to water, properly manage waste, and adopt an integrated approach that considers vector management and the environment, the Ministry of Public Health says in the text. The minister’s editorial is dedicated to water.

Transmissible

During week 39, 70 suspected cases of dengue were reported. Of these, 10% are laboratory-confirmed, and 45.7% (32) are pending confirmation. According to place of residence, the confirmed cases are distributed among the provinces of Duarte, with 70% of the confirmed cases, Monseñor Nouel, and Santiago Rodríguez, with 14% each.

So far this year, 1,161 of the 9,527 suspected cases have been confirmed. The cumulative incidence of confirmed cases is 1,450 per 100,000 inhabitants.

Leptospirosis

This disease transmitted by the leptospira bacterium has registered 32 deaths to date. According to information from the General Directorate of Epidemiology, 413 people are affected.

National Territory – Extreme conditions such as heat and cold have a close relationship with cardiovascular conditions. The heart has to increase its work, and the heart rate increases, says Dr. Halley Moya, a cardiologist. The professional assures that the heart makes efforts to compensate for the imbalance produced by heat or cold.

She explains that regulating the organism’s thermoregulation is necessary, which is what the heart is exposed to.

Of high importance

“The heart is forced in excessive heat to be able to supply the sweat glands; they are in charge of us sweating as a way to release heat,” said Moya.” When there is excessive heat, such as the current one, systemic vasodilatation occurs, which increases blood circulation,” the cardiologist reported. In the season of high temperatures, such as in the Caribbean, the cardiovascular system is the most affected due to dehydration, which exacerbates some cardiac pathologies, the physician said.

The cardiology professional said that if there is a high level of dehydration, people’s blood vessels thicken, which increases the risk of thrombotic events.

Recommendations

The health professional recommends maintaining good hydration. Consuming cold liquids at room temperature is of high importance, Dr. Moya assures.

Hydration should be constant. Do not wait until you are thirsty. If you are healthy, drink between two and three liters of water throughout the day. Patients with heart failure should consult their treating physician to establish a hydration pattern based on their disease.

Sun exposure

The professional recommends avoiding exposure to the sun during peak hours, ideally exercising in the early morning or late afternoon when the sun’s rays fall tangentially on the earth.

Cool clothing

It is essential to wear light-textured clothing that transpires to release heat. Hats, caps, or scarves are also necessary since one percent of the liquid lost through the head coincides with this.

Deaths

Most of the deaths that occur during the hot summer season are of cardiovascular origin, and there is an increase in strokes and heart attacks, she explains.

The health professional assures that this can be explained by systemic vasodilatation, which leads to a greater concentration of blood, which serves as an anatomical substrate for the formation of blood clots.

Dehydration, which can exacerbate some cardiac pathologies, most affects the cardiovascular system during the hot season.

Following numerous public consultations and town hall meetings, the draft Grenada National Disability Policy and Strategic Action Plan is near completion

View the full post Grenada National Disability Policy being finalised on NOW Grenada.

World Sight Day 2024 is being recognised under the theme “Children, love your eyes” raising awareness about vision impairment and blindness, and promoting proper eye and vision care

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This year, SADO is joining with partners to host the annual Breast Cancer Awareness Walk on 26 October 2024 from the Plains Playing Field to Sauteurs Bus Terminal, from 3 pm

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