Civil society is calling for healthier foods to be made more affordable by lowering tariffs on healthy food imports and placing higher tariffs on less healthy foods. This proposal follows recent analysis showing the import tax on healthier foods to be on average 10 per cent higher than on unhealthy food imports.

Concerned with the growing number of citizens being diagnosed with non-communicable diseases because of poor dietary choices, in 2022 the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados Inc. (HSFB) commissioned the University of the West Indies Deputy Principal Professor Winston Moore and Lecturer, Dr Antonio Alleyne to examine whether food prices are truly proving prohibitive to healthy eating and to recommend a policy approach to make healthy foods more affordable.

The policy proposal points out the significant contrast between the high tariffs attached to healthy food imports like fresh vegetables and fruits, compared to the low taxes placed on unhealthy food imports high in salt, sugar and fat, such as cookies, chips and ice cream. It clearly illustrates that, on average, unhealthy foods carry an import tariff of 35 per cent, while healthy foods are taxed at around 45 per cent.

The policy proposal urges the government to flip these tax rates, thereby allowing healthy foods to be sold at a much cheaper price.

According to Professor Moore, “In our island more than half of the population can be considered obese or at risk of being obese as well, and this is largely related to diet. What we have seen is that the choices that we make in relation to food are fundamentally related to the prices. The trend is that (as a people), we go for cheaper foods, which tend to be the unhealthy ones. If we can make healthy foods cheaper, and make unhealthy foods more expensive, we hope it makes it clear for consumers when they go into the supermarket, that they should make a switch, as it would be cheaper for them to consume healthier foods.”

The findings echo the results of the recently released United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean 2022, which illustrates the high costs attached to healthy eating across the region and the preference of low- and middle- income families to consume cheap, energy dense unhealthy foods instead.

The policy proposal highlights the steps taken by Mexico to increase the excise tax on all imported energy-dense foods including salty snacks, chips, sweets, chocolates, cakes, pastries, and frozen desserts, and Chile’s introduction of a “fat-tax” on high in fat and sugar imports, as examples Barbados can consider in developing its own plan to reduce unhealthy eating.

“In essence, by increasing the prices of unhealthy products, taxes can get people to consume less of them and improve nutrition and health. Healthcare costs would be lower, and people would live healthier, longer lives. Governments could use the resulting revenue gains by helping low-income families or cutting other taxes,” Professor Moore adds.

The proposal goes even further by illustrating the benefits of local producers and manufacturers changing their own recipes by lowering the sugar, salt and fat content in the foods being produced.

“Some manufacturers will argue that there is a fall off on the local market when recipes change, and I understand this. However, if you explain to the public the benefits of the reduction and that it is better for you in the long run, it can go a long way. In addition, the manufacturers should see this as an opportunity to innovate and develop new products that can then be exported to other regions in the Caribbean. We need to innovate and try new products and use the domestic market as that testing market to then get into other markets in Latin America and Caribbean and internationally,” the economist asserts.

Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados

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In February 2018, I had a slight pain in my lower right side, similar to an exercising pain. I didn’t think much of it, but I thought it could be my appendix. I decided to go to the doctor that evening. Well, that evening I had no pain, and as most men decide, I would not need to go to the doctor. However, my daughter, who was 17 at the time, insisted I go. She was almost to the point of tears. I could see the worry on her face and hear the concern in her voice.

I went to the doctor. As it turned out, nothing showed up in the initial check, so I was sent to have an ultrasound. The ultrasound showed a mass on my left side, which then meant a CT scan. They found a definite mass on the left and several lymph nodes that were inflamed. Notice the pain I had was on my right. The mass was found on the left. The pain I felt was nothing to do with it, but maybe was a sign from God.

I had to be scheduled for a colonoscopy, and following that, it was confirmed that I had a cancerous growth in my left colon and would need to have surgery. The whole time my wife was by my side, and it was through her love and support, and that of my children, that I maintained my sanity.

I approached this new ‘adventure’ in my life with a certain level of strength and determination. The surgery was on March 6, 2018. It was determined that cancer had not spread through the lining of the colon into the muscles. A number of lymph nodes removed all showed negative.

I was told that I would not need to do chemotherapy or radiation therapy, but just adjust my diet and exercise regimes. I have since then made myself an advocate for colon cancer awareness by sharing my journey with many groups, businesses, and organizations. I hope to encourage people to get early screenings. I will continue to share my story whenever I can, and I want to help find a way to eliminate cancer from being a part of anyone’s life. My life is an open book. Ask me anything.

My advice: The first step is to get checked. If needed, you can start with the stool test; however, the gold standard is the colonoscopy. It is carried out easily in the doctor’s clinic. You are home the same day with little to no side effects. I have had three now, and I have never had any issues.

March 6th 2023 will be exactly five years that I have been cancer free. This is a milestone for those of us who have had cancer. My five-year survival rate would have been 90 to 95 per cent as I detected it very early.

Once detected early, it can be removed, and treatment can be very minimal in most cases. Stay positive and keep smiling through the whole process, as hard as it may seem. Take it from someone who has been there. It was through my positive attitude that I was able to handle the situation.

Since 2018, I became a self-appointed advocate for colon cancer awareness. I have shared my story on TV, radio, print media and social media – wherever I get the chance to raise the awareness and speak of the importance of early screening and detection.

I joined a US-based organisation called Fight CRC and became one of their “Relentless Champions”. They tell me I am the first person not only in the Caribbean to be a part of their organisation but also the first person outside of the US to have come forward and joined them.

Fight Colorectal Cancer (Fight CRC) is the leading patient-empowerment and advocacy organization in the United States, providing balanced and objective information on colon and rectal cancer research, treatment, and policy. We are relentless champions of hope, focused on funding promising, high-impact research endeavours, while equipping advocates to influence legislation and policy for the collective good.

We are Relentless Champions of hope in the fight against colorectal cancer.

I am here to talk with anyone, share my journey and story with whoever needs to hear it or who may need encouragement. I had my wife and two children by my side throughout and if it wasn’t for them, I do not know what would have happened. I had them to be strong for and they were there to be strong for me.

I am here for you. Contact me anytime at: www.facebook.com/beatingcoloncancer; beatingcoloncancer@gmail.com.

“Remember, colon cancer is beatable, treatable, and preventable.”

Graham Bannister

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More needs to be done by Government officials, health-care providers and civil society to help expand the access to primary ear and hearing care in Barbados, the Founder and Chairman of the The Deaf Heart Project said Saturday.

Che’ Greenidge said even though World Hearing Day is an international day celebrated every year, the lack of attention it has received so far in Barbados is worrying, considering the critical need to expand ear and  hearing care on the island.

“That to me is just testament of the fact of how much we neglect our ears and neglect our hearing, whatever our varying degree of our hearing ability may be or what hearing loss we may be experiencing,” Greenidge said as she addressed attendees of Saturday’s World Hearing Day Barbados 2023 event, held at Solidarity House.

This morning, our main goal is to channel appropriate ear care, primary health care as well, and understand that the two are closely related,” she said.

Greenidge praised Audiologist at Barbados Speech and Hearing Centre, Dr Mariella Stabler, volunteers from the Barbados Community College and representatives of Rotary Club Of Barbados for joining forces for the worthy cause on the special day, stressing that partnerships in the area are invaluable.

She stated: “These are the types of partnerships that are needed to make sure that we are promoting healthy ears [and] ear care because once we have more persons involved in the community and more persons aware of it, then we would be able to make sure that this is a [continuous] event.

“We understand the fact that our deaf community, our deaf colleagues, their ears need taking care of too, and this is something that persons may not have thought about.”

Meanwhile, John Hollingsworth, Director of the National Disabilities Unit, said the event organised was an important one, stating: “This exercise this morning, apart from addressing the whole issue of hearing treatment, speaks to the need for significant work as it relates to issues affecting persons with disabilities.”

The director also reiterated government’s commitment to assisting members of the deaf community, stating that an expansion of the Deaf Empowerment Project, which is an initiative used to help the deaf and hearing impaired better communicate with persons when conducting business in both the public and private sectors, would soon be expanded into government offices at the beginning of the new financial year.

“We have on the cards a project called the Video Relay project, which basically assists persons who are deaf or hard of hearing to be able to communicate with the essential services in Barbados. This project is set to begin sometime in the new financial year — after April — where a deaf person who wants to access the services of the hospital, police, immigration department, [etc],” Hollingsworth said.

“What they will be able to do is with their cell phone, approach these agencies and the person at the reception or another person within the organisation, who happens to have a government-issued cell phone, will be able to share that with the deaf person, and they will be able to communicate with the organisation via an interpreter [using the phone].”

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Exercise is the main medicine needed to fight the scourge of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Barbados and the wider Eastern Caribbean, in addition to good nutrition.

While speaking on Saturday, the day dedicated to celebrating World Obesity Day, medical practitioners recommended how exercise should be used in patient care.

The Exercise is Medicine Initiative is a global movement by the American College of Sports Medicine, which was used to assess physical activity as a vital sign.

Speaking during the relaunch of the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners (BAMP) ceremony over the weekend and the Exercise is Medicine presentation, Sports Physician and past President of the Barbados Sports Medicine Association Dr Rene Best encouraged doctors to use exercise as a vital sign similar to how they would check a patients’ heart rate or oxygen blood levels

“Physical activity is a vital sign and you should be documenting that. You should write that this person is getting 250 minutes per week of physical activity. That is the sign to show us that there is something to treat because if that number is zero in writing, you will interview them and try to change it,” he said, adding that it is not a difficult process.

He said inactivity was the one true pandemic before COVID-19.

“From 2012 the pandemic was physical inactivity and it is still going on and affecting us today and probably getting even worse,” he said.

Meanwhile Medical Practitioner Dr Kristyn Kirton shared that their recommendation to physicians is to follow the BRIEF system – an acronym for Baseline activity, Readiness for Change and Risk of participation, Intervention for the individual, Exercise prescription or Expert referral and F for Follow Up.

Baseline activity is to attain the vital sign of exercise to see how much the individual is doing.

“If they are doing nothing we need to use this visit to introduce the idea of exercise and if they are doing something we need to encourage them to keep doing so.”

As for Readiness for change and Risk of participation Dr Kirton said that the physician must look to see how ready the patient is to change.

She also encouraged physicans to intervene in monitoring the individual as a part of the BRIEF process.

As for Exercise Prescription or Expert Referral she said that this is all about the FIT principle, which is about Frequency, Intensity, Timing and Type. The frequency principle is how often a person will exercise, how difficult and when they should exercise and the variation of exercise that they should perform.

She also had this bit of advice for physicians:

“Like any other drug, remember to start low, go slow, stay within your limits, go with the patient and physician because if you know you can’t do a squat don’t advise them to do so unless you’re giving them a printout online or referring them to someone who can,” she said.

Also presenting were physiotherapists Sheldon Batemen and Marita Marshall who spoke on “Steps to Positive Systematic Change United Healthcare.”

“We have a big problem in the Caribbean and Barbados starting with our children – one in three children between the ages of 13 and 15 are obese. That speaks volumes. That should tell us a lot. That should shake us up. We need to do something and we need to do something fast,” she said.

While referencing statistics, which indicate that the English speaking Caribbean has the highest prevalence of diabetes, she said that systems must be put in place to do something about the climbing rates. (MR)

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Members of the public are invited to come out to a coastal sundown walk from Martins Bay, St John, to Bathsheba, St Joseph, on Saturday, March 11, beginning at 3 p.m.

The walk is being hosted by the Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU), as part of activities to mark Coastal Hazard and Earthquake Smart Month, March 1 to 31, celebrated under the theme All Aboard with Coastal Resilience.

The walk is geared towards showcasing the various coastal features along Barbados.  It is also a health and wellness family-oriented event for children ages five and older.

Bus transportation is available from the Warrens Tower II, Warrens, St. Michael car park, from 2:15 p.m. sharp.  Persons desirous of travelling on the buses are encouraged to visit the CZMU office at Warrens Tower II, Warrens, St. Michael, from Monday, March 6, to collect tickets between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Persons attending the walk are encouraged to bring water and wear long sleeves, comfortable shoes and loose clothing.

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The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) welcomed nine interns into the fold on Wednesday, March 1, as they began their one-year internship programme with the hospital, in partial fulfillment of the requirement to practice medicine in Barbados.

The doctors will work in the Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Paediatrics Departments during the next 12 months. 

In her address, Director of Medical Services Dr Chaynie Williams reminded the interns to work hard in their respective departments every day.  

Before welcoming them officially into the QEH, Dr Williams prompted the youthful doctors to utilise the assistance that is always nearby, citing that “there is always someone to call on to ask a question when needed”.  

The doctors were all smiles and appeared ready for the challenge as they proceeded to their assigned departments in the hospital. 

(QEH)

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Barbados’ newest centenarian, Maria St. Auburn-Cave, is very happy to reach her 100th birthday.  

St. Auburn-Cave, who celebrated her special day on Tuesday, February 28, with family at her Valley Development home, St. George said her only regret on reaching the milestone was that her husband was not alive to share it with her.

“I feel good; I feel real happy. The only thing [is], I feel sad that my husband is not here… God take him and I have to live without him, but he was a good husband and a good father. He worked day and night to provide for us; we never suffered a day… I love[d] him very much,” she said.

President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, paid a visit via Zoom, as part of the celebrations, and wished the centenarian a very special birthday. Her Excellency noted that. St. Auburn-Cave’s day “is special in a number of ways, especially because she is the widow of Prince Cave, who has given Barbados so much pleasure over the years.”  

The centenarian’s second daughter, Antoinette Sealy, paid a tribute on behalf of the family, stating: “Mummy’s pride and joy has always been her seven children… her 12 grandchildren and her 12 great-grandchildren. Her family always came first.” 

Lloyd Cave, one of the centenarian’s eldest grandchildren, noted that she is “the rock of the family”.

Prince Cave Jr., one of the centenarian’s sons and a member of the Troubadours band in Barbados, shared that one of his fondest memories was “the strength she had” when his father, Inspector Prince Cave, former Director of the Royal Barbados Police Force Band (now Barbados Police Service Band) traveled for three years to complete a Band Master’s course at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, England.   

Perhaps one of the most poignant tributes was that from Ronald Cave, who shared that when he took ill with tetanus as a boy, “every day, sometimes twice a day” his mum would walk from work or from home to the hospital. “There were some days I was so bad that she could not see me directly, but I remember that sometimes she would come by the window to catch a glimpse,” he noted.

Auburn-Cave worked in the Accounts Department at Perkins and Sons and then at French Trading Co. Ltd. until retirement. Both businesses were on Roebuck Street, Bridgetown.  

She was known for sticking to a schedule and the family knew that growing up, when it was noon it was time to eat and at 7 p.m. she would watch the Evening News on CBC TV, which to this day, she still does with the lights turned off. 

One of the centenarian’s favourite songs is Wind Beneath My Wings,, which Prince Cave Jr. played on the saxophone, as part of his tribute to his mother.

An avid cook, Auburn-Cave still prepares some of her own meals, mainly breakfast (tea and a boiled egg) and her evening tea, which she takes with a fried egg. She has a special fondness for eggs, and she eats two every day. The centenarian appreciates all types of food and is known to like dessert – ice cream and jam puffs. 

(BGIS)

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By Anesta Henry

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) has launched a monthly Employee Recognition Programme to honour staff for their hard work, dedication and going the extra mile to deliver patient care.

Delivering remarks at the inaugural awards held at the QEH Auditorium on Tuesday, Executive Chairman Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland said such an initiative is pivotal simply because only those within the organisation understand what it truly takes to deliver patient care to the public.

She stressed that employees understand the times of plenty, scarcity, as well as the creativity, professional skills, ingenuity, collyfoxing, and sacrificing that it takes to make QEH work.

Bynoe-Sutherland said reward and recognition programmes are important to increase motivation for workers to maintain a positive attitude, encourage friendly competition, improve productivity, and also boost employee retention as satisfied workers are less likely to leave or complain and are most likely to deliver the best service or patient care.

“But forgive me if I dwell on a lesson that I have learnt over the past three years and why I pushed so hard on this event. The QEH organisational culture is a work in progress, we are trying to create a culture of open and effective communication between ourselves and with our patients. 

“We are seeking to maintain a unified purpose and build and sustain a culture of excellence. Our culture will not be changed by mandates from the board or directives from management. What QEH has taught me, what all of you in this room teach us, is that a positive organisational culture is built by inculcating in each and every employee the sense that their words and actions make a difference,” she said.

Suggesting that employees are motivated when commended for a job well done, the Executive Chairman said the 64-plus employees honoured at the inaugural event were chosen because of their deliberate choice to give of themselves, rise against their own personal circumstances and to give to the people of Barbados.

Noting that there are not yet many hospitals on the island where healthcare professionals can trade their skills, Bynoe-Sutherland said for many, working at QEH is the goal. 

“Therefore, we are compelled to do all that we can to build recognition into the fabric and sinews of the organisation. This event is just one corporate measure for executive directors to celebrate their teams. Peer recognition is equally important. 

“We are going to continue with our annual Peer Recognition event, the RESPECT Awards where team members vote and recognise other team members, as recognition from co-workers can be equally as important, and it’s really important to get staff engaged in celebrating and recognising others. 

“In building this culture of recognition – a radio shout out, a thank-you card, handwritten notes, or an anonymous gift can have tremendous power in showing authentic appreciation. It is also important to recognise that some of your employees love the spotlight and others are much more private so recognition can be tailored to the individuals,” she said.

Employees were honoured for various contributions to patient care and for keeping the facility functioning even during challenging times.

Groups from several departments were recognised for the significant role they played, going beyond the call of duty and working long hours, to ensure QEH systems kept running during the cyber-attack on the hospital’s information technology systems. anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb

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The Sinopharm and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines will be available at the island’s polyclinics from Monday, February 27, to Friday, March 3, at the times listed below.

Monday, February 27

• Branford Taitt Polyclinic, Black Rock, St. Michael – 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Eunice Gibson Polyclinic, Warrens, St. Michael – 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Frederick “Freddie” Miller Polyclinic, The Glebe, St. George – 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, February 28

• Branford Taitt Polyclinic, Black Rock, St. Michael – 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Frederick “Freddie” Miller Polyclinic, The Glebe, St. George – 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Eunice Gibson Polyclinic, Warrens, St. Michael – 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Randal Phillips Polyclinic, Oistins, Christ Church – 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 1

• Branford Taitt Polyclinic, Black Rock, St. Michael – 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Maurice Byer Polyclinic, Station Hill, St. Peter – 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Winston Scott Polyclinic, Jemmotts Lane, St. Michael – 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• St. Philip Polyclinic, Six Roads, St. Philip – 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Edgar Cochrane Polyclinic, Wildey, St. Michael – 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Eunice Gibson Polyclinic, Warrens, St. Michael – 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Frederick “Freddie” Miller Polyclinic, The Glebe, St. George – 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 2

• Branford Taitt Polyclinic, Black Rock, St. Michael – 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Frederick “Freddie” Miller Polyclinic, The Glebe, St. George – 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Randal Phillips Polyclinic, Oistins, Christ Church – 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Friday, March 3

• David Thompson Health and Social Services Complex, Glebe Land, St. John – 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Branford Taitt Polyclinic, Black Rock, St. Michael – 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Frederick “Freddie” Miller Polyclinic, The Glebe, St. George – 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The AstraZeneca, adult Pfizer vaccine, and the paediatric Pfizer vaccine for children ages five to eleven, are currently not available.

Persons who wish to receive their first dose of any available vaccine are advised to walk with their identification card. Those eligible for second doses should also travel with their blue vaccination card.

At present, the choice for boosters is either Johnson & Johnson or Sinopharm. Persons receiving boosters may present either their blue vaccination card or vaccination certificate and valid photo identification. Those who were fully vaccinated overseas must also provide their vaccination cards and valid photo identification (passport or identification card). (MR/BGIS)

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By Anesta Henry

Cow-itch vines growing on empty lots have been creating major headaches for some schools across the island and President of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) Rudy Lovell wants landowners to have the offending lots cleared and maintained.

He has complained that cow-itch is becoming a “nuisance” as several schools have been affected already for this school term. One teacher who had a serious allergic reaction, was  ordered by her doctor not to return to the school to which she was assigned.

Lovell charged that some of the offensive lands may even be owned by the State.

“This is a serious matter. The Barbados Union of Teachers is imploring, begging, beseeching, whatever word you want to use, landowners who have lands adjacent to schools that are harbouring cow-itch to clear the lands. This is becoming a nuisance and several schools have been affected. This term alone, Daryl Jordan Secondary, Grantley Adams Secondary, Gordon Greenidge Primary have been affected. 

“Now I am getting complaints from Mount Tabor Primary, I am getting complaints from Blackman and Gollop Primary, from Thelma Berry Nursery, and this is just to name a few,” Lovell said.

He said that the Ministry of Education has been working to address the vexing issue, but admitted that they could only do “so much”.

When contacted, Minister of Environment and National Beautification, Adrian Forde, told Barbados TODAY he would be contacting the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and Wellness to investigate the environmental concern being reported by the BUT.

“I would talk to the Minister of Education and find out what the concerns are. I know the Environmental Health offices under the Ministry of Health can also activate certain legislation under the Health Services Regulations as it relates to properties. So it would be a collective effort,” Forde said.

Meanwhile, Lovell said the union believes that landowners have a social responsibility to ensure that their lands do not pose any threat to persons in surrounding areas. The president said this is why the BUT is encouraging landowners who know that their properties are overgrown with bush, to clear the lots.

He said it is unfair to students, teachers and ancillary staff who occupy school plants, to have to be exposed to “this nuisance called cow-itch”.

“And even though we may ask the Ministry of Education to intervene at times, the Ministry of Education can only close the schools. And even after the schools are reopened, in some cases, the lands are not really cleared to the extent that the cow-itch has been totally removed. So we are asking the landowners to do what they are supposed to do by maintaining their properties.

“I know in some cases, schools have been reaching out to the landowners. But the thing is that this is an annual problem. We know that around this time of the year cow-itch grows. Why wait until it impacts or affects the occupants of the schools to then come and clear the fields? Why not be proactive as a landowner and seek to remove the cow-itch from the properties? I received calls on a daily basis with regards to cow-itch, it is a total nuisance,” Lovell said.

The BUT president also indicated that he has been getting multiple complaints from teachers that they have been experiencing allergic reactions as a result of the hazard. 

Forde said he agreed 100 per cent with Lovell’s plea, and revealed that the Government was currently working on legislation that would address landowners being forced to either clear their lots or be subjected to penalties if they refuse to do so.

“The school of thought is that landowners who are not complying to have those persons be given a period of time to do the remedial work.” 

He said if this fails, the Government would do the cleaning and bill the charges to the landowner whether it is through the land tax bill or by some other means. 

“The legislation hasn’t been drafted yet but there are definitely plans to deal with this issue. Really and truly this is not how we should be operating as Barbadians, this is not who we are as a people,” Minister Forde said.

anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb

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