The general public can also use this opportunity to capitalise on life-saving first aid and CPR training

View the full post GHTA and Red Cross to host first aid and CPR training on NOW Grenada.

The new law is obviously aimed at abortions obtained in other states, but it’s written to criminalize in-state behavior leading to the out-of-state procedure — a clear nod to the uncertainty surrounding efforts by lawmakers in at least half a dozen states to extend their influence outside their borders when it comes to abortion law.

Read the rest…

View the full post CDB providing Grenada with US$9.97 million to strengthen health systems on NOW Grenada.

Barahona, DR
The emergency area of the Jaime Mota Regional University Hospital (HRUJM) was busy this Good Friday due to the number of patients who arrived for various reasons, mainly due to traffic accidents involving motorcycles.

Injured in motor vehicle accidents were Eleodoro Medina Matos, 66, Nashla Ramirez, 6, Elias Cuevas Rubio, 26, Brayelin Peña, 14, Luis David Rodriguez, 26, Nelson Daniel Peña Segura, 37, and Luciano Jimenez, 28.

Ramón Urbáez, 32 years old, a resident of the La Peñuela sector of Cabral, was taken to the local hospital’s emergency room because of a fishing spear stuck in his back, accidentally caused by a companion when they were both fishing on the “El Curro” hill.

The cases are from Batey VIII, belonging to Cristóbal and others from the provinces of Independencia, Bahoruco, and Barahona, as well as from the municipality of Tamayo. Many of them were admitted to this health center.

So far, in Barahona province, there are no records of deaths within the Easter Week: Conscience for Life, 2023 operation, except for the death of a man from Azua de Compostela who hit the motor he was driving with a vehicle near the Vicente Noble intersection.

Dozens of people moved toward the different communities of the coastal area, many of them to visit beaches, rivers, and mountains. However, despite the large number of vehicles that moved towards that part of the province, there are no reports of traffic accidents.

In addition, the different neighborhoods have remained calm during this Good Friday. In the early hours in other sectors, citizens took out their swimming pools for children and adults to bathe, despite the prohibition due to the drought affecting the country.

(AFP) – From COVID-19 to Mpox, Mers, Ebola, avian flu, Zika and HIV, diseases transmitted from animals to humans have multiplied in recent years, raising fears of new pandemics.

– What is a zoonosis? –

A zoonosis (plural zoonoses) is a disease or infection transmitted from vertebrate animals to people, and vice versa. The pathogens involved can be bacteria, viruses or parasites.

These diseases are transmitted either directly during contact between an animal and a human, or indirectly through food or through a vector such as an insect, spider or mite.

Some diseases end up becoming specifically human, like COVID-19.

According to the World Organisation for Animal Health, 60 per cent of human infectious diseases are zoonotic.

– What types of diseases are involved? –

The term “zoonoses” includes a wide variety of diseases.

Some affect the digestive system, such as salmonellosis, others the respiratory system, such as avian and swine flu as well as COVID, or the nervous system in the case of rabies.

The severity of these diseases in humans varies greatly depending on the disease and the pathogen’s virulence, but also on the infected person, who may have a particular sensitivity to the pathogen.

– What animals are involved? –

Bats act as a reservoir for many viruses that affect humans.

Some have been known for a long time, such as the rabies virus, but many have emerged in recent decades, such as Ebola, the SARS coronavirus, Sars-CoV-2 (which causes COVID-19) or the Nipah virus, which appeared in Asia in 1998.

Badgers, ferrets, mink and weasels are often implicated in viral zoonoses, and in particular those caused by coronaviruses.

Other mammals, such as cattle, pigs, dogs, foxes, camels and rodents, also often play the role of intermediate host.

All the viruses responsible for major influenza pandemics had an avian origin, either direct or indirect.

Finally, insects such as ticks are vectors of many viral diseases that affect humans.

– Why has the frequency of zoonoses increased? –

Having appeared thousands of years ago, zoonoses have multiplied over the past 20 or 30 years.

The growth of international travel has allowed them to spread more quickly.

By occupying increasingly large areas of the planet, humans also contribute to disrupting the ecosystem and promoting the transmission of viruses.

Industrial farming increases the risk of pathogens spreading between animals.

Trade in wild animals also increases human exposure to the microbes they may carry

Deforestation increases the risk of contact between wildlife, domestic animals and human populations.

– Should we fear another pandemic? –

Climate change will push many animals to flee their ecosystems for more livable lands, a study published by the scientific journal Nature warned in 2022.

By mixing more, species will transmit their viruses more, which will promote the emergence of new diseases potentially transmissible to humans.

“Without preventative strategies, pandemics will emerge more often, spread more rapidly, kill more people, and affect the global economy with more devastating impact than ever before,” the UN Biodiversity Expert Group warned in October 2020.

According to estimates published in the journal Science in 2018, there are 1.7 million unknown viruses in mammals and birds, 540,000 to 850,000 of them with the capacity to infect humans.

But above all, the expansion of human activities and increased interactions with wildlife increase the risk that viruses capable of infecting humans will “find” their host.

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Almost three years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic first breached the shores of Caribbean countries, causing severe economic and social dislocation and putting immense strain on health systems throughout the Region.

Now, as the Region continues its recovery, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has committed US$29.8 million to strengthen health systems in Grenada, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines to better withstand future health crises.

At a meeting on Thursday, March 30, the Bank’s board of directors ratified approval of three loans in the sums of US$9.97 million, US$9.86 million and US$10 million to the Governments of Grenada, Saint Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines respectively. The funding is allocated from resources provided by the European Investment Bank (EIB) to CDB under the EIB Climate Action Line of Credit II – COVID-19 Component.

CDB’s Vice-President of Operations, Isaac Solomon said the COVID-19 pandemic had revealed cracks in the health-care systems, making the investment timely.

“The unrelenting demands of the pandemic unearthed and made more prominent and urgent, critical frailties in our health sector around the areas of limited human, infrastructure and institutional capacity,” said Solomon.

He added: “Accordingly, there is an urgent need for upgrading to strategically position our countries to be able to respond to present and emerging challenges. We are therefore pleased to be able to approve these resources to help strengthen resilience.”

In Grenada, the funding will assist with infrastructural works and updates at various medical facilities including the St Georges General Hospital, the Westerhall Medical Station, the St Georges Medical Station, the Grand Bras Health Facility, the New Hampshire Health Facility, the River Sallee Medical Station, the Hillsborough Health Centre and the Mt. Gay Psychiatric Hospital.

It will also fund capacity building and training for health-care workers in key areas including the Biomedical Equipment Technician Certification, rehabilitation and counselling, and risk communication. The funding will also support increased training for nurses in a range of specialities including intensive care, nephrology, neonatology, emergency care, geriatric care, oncology and nursing administration.

The loan will also cover support for purchasing of goods and equipment throughout the health sector as well as institutional strengthening initiatives such as a planned digitalisation of the health sector.

In Saint Lucia, nearly US$2 million of the funding will be utilised for purchasing critical medical equipment such as ventilators, x-ray machines, ultrasound machines and dental, neonatal and eye care equipment. The equipment will go to health facilities across the island, including the La Ressource Wellness Centre, Castries Urban Centre, Dennery Hospital, Soufriere Hospital, Comfort Bay Home for Older Persons, St. Jude Hospital and two respiratory clinics – Vieux-Fort Wellness Centre and Gros Islet Polyclinic.

Over US$3 million will be allocated for improvements at five health-care facilities. Two facilities damaged by fire in recent years – the La Ressource Wellness Centre and the Soufriere Hospital, will be refurbished and rehabilitated while the Comfort Bay Home for Older Persons, will be expanded and retrofitted. The Castries Urban Centre will be relocated and expanded and a new annex will be added to the Dennery Hospital.

Other funding will go towards procuring supplies and pharmaceuticals as well as providing a range of training and capacity building solutions for health-care workers.

Strengthening the medical supply chain will get needed investment in St Vincent and the Grenadines, with US$3.3 million of the funding to support works to establish a Central Medical Warehouse.

Nearly US$2.3 million will be put towards medical and other equipment at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, such as a new distillery system for the pharmacy, equipment for the operating theatre, maternity ward and NICU, for the wards and other departments, and a CT Scanner, X-ray Machine and Hyperbaric chamber.

Building up the skills of health-care workers is also a priority with a specific focus on filling skills gaps. Specialised training will be provided for operating theatre nurses, radiology staff, lab technicians, risk communication staff and others.

Other funding will go towards engaging additional health-care staff in key areas, the establishment of a dedicated secretariat for the Health Security Unit and the supply and installation of a medical oxygen plant.

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Santo Domingo, DR.
A one-year-old girl died after she was given an injection in a health center located in the Canastica sector in the province of San Cristobal.

The infant was taken by her relatives to the First Level Care Center Canastica (CPN) last Tuesday, where she was medicated, and after her health situation worsened, referred to the Robert Read Cabral Children’s Hospital, where she died last Wednesday.

The director of the Regional Health Service of Valdesia (SRSV), Marcelino Fulgencio, reported that they are carrying out the necessary investigations to determine the reasons for the death of the infant.

Fulgencio regretted the death of the infant and explained that she was taken to the CPN by her mother and an aunt, with an indication of medication from another health center, so the nursing staff first proceeded to perform a subdermal test on the compatibility of medications, to determine if the girl was allergic to it.

According to the doctor, the test was negative, so the medication was applied.

According to a press release, the girl’s relatives handed over the prescription indicating the medication Diamine 633, prescribed by a pediatrician, which after being applied, the minor began to present difficulty in breathing, weak pulse, and cyanotic.

“According to what could be observed, it was an anaphylaxis,” said Fulgencio.

The head of the SRS Valdesia said that they immediately applied first aid and proceeded to transfer her to the Juan Pablo Pina Regional Hospital, where she was stabilized and later referred to the Robert Read Cabral Children’s Hospital because she required immediate admission to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Last Wednesday, the girl died at the said health center.

Dr. Marcelino Fulgencio reiterated his condolences to the family, with whom he has been in communication, and affirmed that they would continue to investigate the incident in order to apply the corresponding measures if necessary.

Finally, he said that the person who provided care to the minor always remained at the health center.

Amber Cumberbatch’s goal is to empower young women.
The former athlete turned coach believes her life’s purpose is helping athletes, especially females, to reach their greatest heights on and off the track.
“A big part of what makes me happy in life is training and coaching girls and women into becoming the athletes that they are. I believe that regardless of your age, your experience, your goals, your history, that in every person there is an athlete just waiting and wanting to be released,” Cumberbatch told Barbados TODAY in a recent interview.
“However, we all know that it takes applied effort, strength and determination for this to come alive and grow and my purpose and passion as a coach is to lift women up to that place of understanding and coach them into becoming fit, fast and strong.
“My mission is to help groom girls and women into unleashing their inner athlete and start living a more active and good life through movement and exercise,” she added.
Cumberbatch’s journey as a fitness coach began in 2014.
She said since then she had witnessed many of her clients experience a positive mind shift during their sessions.
“The feeling is so alive and refreshing and I didn’t want to keep it to myself anymore, so that’s when I stepped out of my usual set up of training alone and stepped into the life of guiding and coaching others into their journey in movement and exercise,” she added.
Cumberbatch represented Barbados at regional track and field events which earned her a full athletic scholarship to Missouri State University in the United States.
This fitness expert spoke also about how she initially started coaching and the rush of excitement she gets from working with children.
“I initially started out training adults, but recently I have been working with kids who have an interest in running or just overall fitness and to be honest, working with these kids brings so much joy to my life and I always look forward to our training sessions,” Cumberbatch explained.
“I have been told that I’m a very loving and easy person to be around and because I love people and enjoy taking care of their journey in fitness, along with my fun and variety focused programmes, many of my students remain with me over the years and we’ve built a close family connection at the same time.”
Cumberbatch admitted that seeing the results from her client’s hard work and dedication was especially rewarding.
“I enjoy seeing the results and when I see the transformation happen in my students it re-ignites the fire that I have for coaching. Sometimes, it even brings tears to my eyes in my quiet times of reflection. It really wows me when I see them improve and hit their new targets,” she said.
Cumberbatch revealed that she got involved in track and field from the age of eight and has no plans on stopping any time soon.
She said even during the Covid-19 pandemic was in-person training was prohibited, she found ways to continue her training.
“COVID-19 stole the atmosphere of in-person training and I surmounted this new way of life by being extra creative. I took my classes online and worked in the virtual world until the all clear was given to be outdoors,” she pointed out.
As for her inspiration, she says that she looks up to one “superwoman,” her mother Michelle Cumberbatch, who she described as extremely strong and resilient.
“She always motivates me to grow without any barriers,” she said putting it simply.
(MR)

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Public health authorities are stepping up their surveillance of food establishments across Barbados as the country battles a significant outbreak in the highly-infectious gastroenteritis disease.

Expressing concern at cases which have increased some seven-fold between the end of January and March this year, when compared to the same period last year, Chief Medical Officer (CMO)  The Most Honourable Dr Kenneth George is pleading with Barbadians not to take any chances.

“We have surveillance systems for gastroenteritis and this is how we know what is happening. Our surveillance systems have indicated that there has been an uptick not only in the public sector, but also in the private sector. This public health issue is becoming a concern,” Dr George told Barbados TODAY on Thursday.

“The Ministry of Health has been observing over the last two to three months an increase in the number of cases of gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis is an infectious and inflammatory disease of the bowels and it may include the stomach and the intestine, and the symptoms tend to be vomiting and diarrhea. Gastroenteritis is caused mainly by bacterial and viral infection,” he explained.

With cases reaching 312 so far this year as compared to 42 for the corresponding period in 2022, the Government’s chief medical advisor said while tests have not identified any single source or event for the illness, foodborne pathogens have been seen in some areas. He also noted that no corresponding increase in respiratory diseases has been identified during the past several months.

“What I will say is that we have done the appropriate culture of specimen, and that has indicated that there is no particular one organism or no particular point source for the infection. Therefore, we will continue to monitor the situation,” the CMO stated.

There were 19 reported cases at the end of January this year and 47 at the end of March.

“Gastroenteritis is a preventable public health disease. This is the time when people are preparing a lot of food and selling a lot of food…they need to be particularly vigilant to ensure that infections are not increasing,” Dr George advised.

The CMO had a special message for people who prepare food, especially those in public spaces.

“First, handwashing is critical to prevent infection. Remember these infections are termed faeco-oral…there is contamination of the food that we eat…and that leads to the multiplication of bacteria and the presentation of symptoms. Raw foods should not be mixed with cooked foods. There should not be any cross-contamination between raw foods and cooked foods,” he pointed out.

The CMO also urged food handlers to pay special attention to the cleanliness of their utensils and the equipment on which the foods are prepared.

“In addition, the rule of thumb is that hot foods are kept hot and cold foods are kept cold. Cold foods should be maintained at a temperature of no less than 40 degrees fahrenheit and hot foods should be maintained at a temperature of above 140 degrees fahrenheit. If it is not done in this way and the foods are left for a period of time, the multiplication of the bacteria in the foods becomes higher.

“You have to be more careful that when food is particularly on the outside and waiting to be served, it needs to be kept at the appropriate temperature,” the CMO recommended.

He also warned people who prepare food they must have a health certificate and if preparation is done in a restaurant, that establishment needs to have a licence as required by law.

Dr George also appealed to people who contract gastro to report to any polyclinic or their private physician for guidance on the most appropriate actions to be taken.

“Many times antibiotic medicines are not required for gastroenteritis. On most occasions, antibiotics are not required. Persons need to maintain their hydration, and try to stay away from milk products and very greasy or oily foods,” he stated.

Dr George noted that while children under five years of age have contracted the illness, most of the cases have occurred in people over five.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author(s) do not represent the official position of Barbados TODAY.

By Nicholai Peters

Self-care, self-care; self-care. The words we so often overlook. I can attest that life indeed can change in the blink of an eye. Plagued by detrimental thoughts, plagued with distrust, plagued with anxiety – these are a few things that life threw at me simultaneously. Never in my life could I have imagined being crippled by the aforementioned. During this time, it can feel like there is no one to turn to and surely no way out. This is far from the truth, but perception in this state can be overwhelming and also tainted, which leads to that thought process. 

What is mental health? It’s the thing that should be paramount in our lives. What does it mean to you? In my situation, dealing with my mental health meant hiding from everyone and everything I loved, as I was so terrified of being vulnerable. On one hand, time for yourself can be necessary and beneficial, but in the same breath there’s such a thing as excessive ‘introspection’, which can lead to darker thoughts and, subsequently, depression. I’m no psychologist, but what I do know is don’t become engulfed in your issues. Don’t shut everyone out. After all, the people around you or those who express concern cannot empathize with what they do not know. Regarding friends and empathy, another lesson is to be gentle with yourself and the process of some people understanding your situation, considering not everyone will have the same reaction or ‘lenience’ as it pertains to your situation.  

In the space of six months, I was hospitalized on three occasions. No one likes to or wants to go to the hospital, but my health had plummeted to lows I didn’t know were possible. God knows how many plans I had, how many things I wanted to make a reality. I’ve never seen so many doctors in my life, I almost thought it was an ‘episode’ of Grey’s Anatomy. In all seriousness, I never thought my brain could collapse to the point that I couldn’t walk for a period of time or even hold objects without shaking. Quite frankly, I thought I was dying on multiple occasions. All of this at the age of 20, fresh off the best/most productive summer I’ve ever had. Why was this happening to me? Why me, of all the people I know and in my age group?

From mould poisoning to this other diagnosis, to yet another diagnosis – it all felt like my world was crashing in front of my eyes. For so long, I couldn’t recognize the man in the mirror anymore. 

I thank God for placing the correct people in my life to help me recover. I’m not where I want to be, whether it be academically, socially, but most important of all, my health. Every day, I try to challenge myself to do something out of my new but temporary normal to expedite the recovery process. From not walking, talking or eating, to finally being able to do said things and pick back up the pen and paper (quite literally). I was scared, petrified really, to try again. 

The lines and my vision had gotten so blurry I didn’t know where to start. In recent times, I’d met a few people who seemed to be genuinely invested in me, but the natural self-sabotage I engaged in always led to my demise. 

I don’t want to be the boy that ‘burns down the village because they didn’t embrace him’ anymore… as I quoted in my youth parliament speech quite some time ago… Everything I’ve said thus far, whether publicly or in private, it’s been about my personal struggle to find my way from the back of society to trying to become a beacon of hope for people like me. I know relatively good times, but I also know struggle all too well. Every time I thought I was making progress, I hit a wall again. I’m trying my best to be the man God, my family and friends know I can be. The only fear I have in this life is not being able to reward my family and friends for all they have done. I have to figure this out if I’m to give them the life they deserve. 

I’ll leave you with this, check in on a friend, whether old or young. Mental health struggles are more prevalent than some of us can imagine. 

Only God and time will tell what becomes of Nicholai Peters… the boy they overlooked. 

Nicholai Peters, man of the people and for the people.

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