Santo Domingo.- The Public Prosecutor’s Office has presented a report from the Comptroller General of the Republic as evidence in the Second Collegiate Court of the National District, highlighting irregularities in payments exceeding 310 million pesos related to purchasing processes during Wilfredo (Freddy) Hidalgo Núñez’s time as Minister of Public Health in 2013. Hidalgo is accused of being part of a corruption scheme that misappropriated over 4,500 million pesos, uncovered during Operation Pulpo.

Prosecutor Ernesto Guzmán Alberto indicated that Hidalgo improperly requested payment exemptions from the then-Comptroller General, Rafael Germosén. Auditor Amisael Félix Vicioso testified that the payment releases lacked the required signatures and did not comply with Law 340-06 on Purchases and Contracts. Irregularities included a lack of public bidding, improper timing of purchase authorizations, and no formal contracts for the transactions.

Witnesses, including auditors Rosa Iris Fanis and Carmen Magalys Baltazar Carpio, noted significant legal violations in the purchasing processes. The court has scheduled the next hearing for October 7, where the defense will continue cross-examining the witnesses.

Activity surrounding the largest walk-for-a-cause in the Eastern Caribbean is intensifying, as plans are confirmed for the Walk for the Cure.

Interest is high from corporate sponsors and their staff who are ready to take part in the walk, as well as the numerous vendors who will be on hand for the expected 20 000 people who will be either walking or running for the Breast Screening Programme of the Barbados Cancer Society.

Many of the sponsors and vendors were on hand for a recent site visit to see where they would physically set up their tents and banners and also get a final briefing on the route which starts at Warrens again this year.

(PR)

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This story first appeared in Adam’s Biotech Scorecard, a subscriber-only newsletter. STAT+ subscribers can sign up here to get it delivered to their inbox.

When it comes to delivering shareholder value through M&A, Ron Renaud is a biotech investor’s best friend. Over the last 10 years, all three of the companies he has helmed were sold to Big Pharma for a combined $16 billion. 

With that track record — and the financial windfall it brings — no one would have begrudged Renaud, 55, had he desired to spend more time with his Cape Cod fishing buddies. But he can’t quit biotech. Weeks after overseeing the close of Cerevel Therapeutics’s $8.7 billion acquisition by AbbVie, Renaud is back as CEO of Kailera Therapeutics, a newly formed company with a pipeline of weight loss drug candidates.

Continue to STAT+ to read the full story…

Actor Johnny Depp, who was in Spain for the San Sebastian Film Festival, dressed as the famous character from the popular "Pirates of the Caribbean" film series and dropped into the Osakidetza Donostia University Hospital.

Depp visited the pediatric and oncology wards, where he interacted with the delighted children and their families.

CHILDREN ONCE HELD HOSTAGE STILL WORKING THROUGH TRAUMA: 'ARE THEY COMING FOR US AGAIN?'

A spokesperson from the hospital described the actor’s visit as "exciting, endearing and unforgettable."

"Both the children admitted to the hospital and their families and professionals who were working at that time welcomed him with great enthusiasm and affection," the spokesperson said. 

"In a situation of illness, anyone, but especially children, greatly appreciates a distraction of this magnitude. It was a breath of fresh air, a magical moment in which they forgot about their illness and were transported to the magical world of pirates."

The entire hospital team, the admitted children and their families are all "enormously grateful" for Depp’s visit, the spokesperson said. 

"It has been a pleasure and an honor to have Jack Sparrow with us, a great pirate."

Harpreet Pall, MD, chair of pediatrics at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center, confirmed that a celebrity role model visiting a children’s hospital can have a "meaningful impact" on the patients’ emotional health.

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"Some of the psychological benefits include improved self-esteem and confidence, distraction from illness, improved optimism and a morale boost," Pall told Fox News Digital. 

"A celebrity visit can create excitement and decrease some of the stress of being in the hospital."

The visit can also increase children’s engagement with their health care team, the doctor said, leading to better adherence to the treatment plan. 

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Pall added, "In addition, having a positive outlook and social interaction promotes healing for hospitalized children."

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The aftermath of Hurricane Helene has brought severe flooding to the southeast.

With excess water in the home, there’s an increased risk of mold growth, which can lead to serious health risks.

As Hurricane Milton heads toward Florida, experts are once again issuing warnings about the dangers of mold exposure.

HURRICANE EFFECTS POSE ‘TREMENDOUS’ HEALTH HAZARDS FOR AMERICANS, DOCTOR WARNS

Mold in your home can look like multicolored spots and can smell musty, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In an appearance on "Fox & Friends," Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel noted that wet walls can lead to mold that might not always be visible.

Siegel called out two "very serious molds" that he’s most worried about: black mold and aspergillus.

FOLLOW THESE STEPS IF YOU'VE FOUND BLACK MOLD IN YOUR HOME TO KEEP YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE

Black mold can appear as black or dark green splotches, Siegel detailed.

Aspergillus is invasive and can cause aspergillosis, an infection that's usually respiratory, according to Mayo Clinic.

Mold can cause a variety of symptoms, such as stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing, wheezing, burning eyes and skin rash.

Both black mold and Aspergillus can provoke allergy symptoms and infections, as well as conditions like hypersensitivity pneumonitis, an allergic reaction that causes inflammation in the lungs, according to Siegel.

‘SMART MASK’ COULD DETECT ASTHMA, COPD AND OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS, RESEARCHERS SAY

Mold can also trigger breathing conditions like emphysema or asthma, the doctor added.

"I’m worried about people who are immunocompromised and have chronic illnesses," he said.

"It can be fatal if you’re immunocompromised or if you’ve had a transplant — you can get a severe case of infection from mold."

People with conditions like chronic lung disease can develop an infection in the lungs, the CDC stated.

Mold can develop in as little as 24 hours, Cleveland Clinic experts reported in a news release.

The sooner water damage is cleared up, the less risk there is for mold to grow, according to Maeve MacMurdo, MD, a pulmonologist for Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

20 WORST PLACES TO LIVE IF YOU HAVE ASTHMA, PER MAJOR HEALTH ORGANIZATION

"Obviously, the sooner, the better, and it’s hard," she said in the release. "People are dealing with a lot, but cleaning up the water and mold remediation is a really big part of it."

For those who have regained power in their home, Siegel recommends plugging in a dehumidifier or air conditioner to dry out the space.

"Even if it’s cool outside, you want air-conditioning because you want to get rid of the humidity," he said. "The humidity is where mold grows."

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The doctor also recommends using bleach or vinegar to wipe down mold spots on walls – or hiring a professional to detect and remove mold.

"There are professional organizations that can spot the mold that’s hiding in the nooks and crannies," Siegel said.

For mold prevention, the CDC recommends keeping humidity levels at no higher than 50% in the home.

Air should "flow freely," helped by exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom, according to the same source.

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Fixing leaks in the roof, walls and plumbing will help ensure that no moisture in the home turns into mold, experts advise.

The CDC also recommends not using carpet in rooms where there is more moisture, such as bathrooms and basements, and replacing carpets and upholstery that have been soaked.

When cleaning mold spots, never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners, the agency warned, as this will produce a poisonous gas.

It is best practice to follow the manufacturer's instructions on the bleach container's label, open windows to provide fresh air, and wear rubber boots, gloves and goggles during cleanup, experts advise.

People with persistent symptoms should seek medical attention, MacMurdo urged. 

While the flu season will bring temporary viruses, mold symptoms will continue to linger.