During the dissertation, the official highlighted that during the two years of administration (2020-2022), some RD 5,126,266,797.59 had been invested in infrastructure and equipment in 179 health centers, saving the State some 5 billion pesos.

He said that in the Directorate of Access to High-Cost Medicines, the government currently invests some 9,000 million pesos annually to benefit about 15,000 patients with chronic diseases.

He stated that the current authorities found the country in a state of emergency, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, without an efficient protocol, so they sought a rapid and strategic response to implement, given the challenges and needs faced by the nation at that time.

In that sense, he explained the strategies implemented that resulted in the current development of the health sector.

“The health system did not have an emergency plan, and the regulatory and training framework was made more efficient to respond to any pandemic; the first level of care is being renovated, we increased the diagnostic capacity, implementation of mobile hospitals, relations with international organizations and public-private partnership and high training in human resources in health. Through all these initiatives developed by order of our President Luis Abinader, we have achieved what we are today in terms of health,” indicated Dr. Rivera.

In this context, Dr. Rivera said that the government responded quickly to any epidemiological situation that could arise after the passage of natural phenomena, such as the passage through the country of storm Fiona, as well as with preventive actions for smallpox, cholera, and other viruses.

He also detailed the investments made in remodeling, emergencies, new constructions, first-level centers, and specialties such as hemodialysis, oncology units, and diabetic foot, among others.

During his presentation, the official pointed out that President Luis Abinader has a great strategic vision to continue strengthening the health system in the Dominican Republic, such as the healthy municipalities programs with the implementation of the “Change your Lifestyle” Health Routes and the creation of healthy cities in the provinces of San Francisco de Macorís, San Pedro and San Cristóbal.

“From our Ministry of Health we have impacted more than 100,000 people with the Health Route journey in 17 provinces, with some 35 services such as: evaluations, general consultation, pediatric, blood typing, diagnostics, treatments and prevention oriented to non-communicable diseases, psychosocial support, delivery of medicines, National Health Insurance (SeNaSa) affiliation among other services.”

The also president of the Health Cabinet highlighted the achievements made in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, with which the country guaranteed vaccination for all citizens and was the third country to apply the third dose. Likewise, the government decided to use the drugs Tocilizumab and REGEN-COV in severe patients and was one of the first in the world with the lowest lethality of the disease.

He also highlighted that the country was one of the five nations with the best vaccination rate, the sixth in Latin America in implementing immunization in children, and the third in the region in carrying out Genomic Sequencing, being recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO/PAHO), for the strategies implemented during the pandemic.

The Minister of Health highlighted the different social programs implemented in the area of health, in which he highlighted the budget increase made in the Essential Medicines Program and Central Logistical Support (PROMESE/CAL), which went from RD 1,568 million in 2022 to RD 3,176 million in 2023 for essential medicines, benefiting around 17,000 low-income patients.

He also mentioned the work carried out by entities such as the National Health Service (SNS), SeNaSa, Uniendo Voluntades, the National Institute of Drinking Water and Sewerage (INAPA), the Ministry of Housing and Buildings, among others.

The Minister of Health held the conference at the UTESA University Convention Center at the invitation of the New Democrats External Sector movement, which officials attended, collaborators of the Ministry of Health, members of Congress, and special guests, among other personalities.

The news comes nearly a year after the announcement that Willis would be stepping away from acting due to a diagnosis of aphasia, a language disorder that impacts the ability to speak, read and write.

A study by researchers with New York City's Columbia University found that one in every 10 adults over 65 has some form of dementia. 

BRUCE WILLIS' DEMENTIA BATTLE: ICONIC STAR'S JOURNEY FROM ACTION HERO TO FAMILY MAN

While most people are familiar with Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common type, FTD is likely not as well-known.

FTD, as defined by Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, is "a group of disorders that occur when nerve cells in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain are lost. This causes the lobes to shrink. FTD can affect behavior, personality, language and movement."

FTD typically affects men and women between 40 and 65 years of age.

While symptoms of FTD can vary depending on what part of the brain is affected, most people with the condition experience some common symptoms, as listed on the Johns Hopkins Medicine website. 

Behavior or personality changes are often the most obvious indicators. These may include public outbursts or socially inappropriate actions.

People with FTD also tend to have impaired judgment, a lack of empathy and lower self-awareness, Johns Hopkins states. 

Others may notice sufferers losing interest in activities they used to enjoy or withdrawing emotionally from friends and family members.

This type of dementia is also marked by a reduced ability to understand or formulate language.

People may struggle to remember the names of objects, string words into sentences or even recall the meanings of words they used to know. 

They may have trouble planning and organizing — and find that they are easily distracted.

FIRST DRUG PROVEN TO SLOW ALZHEIMER'S WON'T BE AVAILABLE TO MOST PATIENTS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS

Eventually, the person with FTD may end up speaking less frequently out of frustration. The condition can also lead to agitation, irritability and drastic mood swings.

Dr. Tiffany Chow, vice president of clinical development and neurology at Alector, Inc. in San Francisco, California, has spent most of her career working with patients and families living with dementia and investigating clinical trials for these illnesses.

"Most people aren’t expecting dementia to start in their 50s," she told Fox News Digital in an email. 

"The earliest signs of FTD can be so subtle that they're often misinterpreted as a ‘midlife crisis,’ which then delays appropriate medical attention."

Dr Chow said that many family members have told her they remember their loved one acting in a way that was uncharacteristic. 

In one example, someone who had handled tax returns capably for the last 25 years was suddenly unable to organize receipts and other paperwork.

NEW STUDY INDICATES DEMENTIA SIGNS CAN BE DETECTED NEARLY A DECADE BEFORE DIAGNOSIS

There was also a seasoned camper who found herself unable to set up her tent without help.

"The tricky part is that the change doesn't occur overnight, from normal to consistently disabled," said Dr. Chow. 

"Isolated events are noticed maybe every few months, and it's hard to string those together into a major concern until the changes are seen on a daily basis," Dr. Chow also said.

If a clinician isn’t aware of FTD, there’s a risk it will be misdiagnosed as a midlife crisis or a psychiatric condition such as bipolar affective disorder. 

"One of the big challenges in our field is to get the word out to primary care physicians about this relatively rare cause of dementia," Dr. Chow said. 

The doctor said there are some new checklists and tools available to help patients pinpoint the changes they’re experiencing. Otherwise, there is no single universal screening test for FTD.

CONSUMING ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS COULD INCREASE DEMENTIA RISK: STUDY

"This is very different from Alzheimer's disease, where memory testing and cerebrospinal fluid tests can help in diagnosing the disease," said Dr. Chow. 

"For FTD, the assessment of changes in frontal lobe functions is more complex, requiring an objective history from someone who can help the clinician understand the person's ‘normal’ level of function and how social skills have changed."

Although there is no universal diagnostic test, there are genetic screenings that can flag someone as more likely to develop FTD. 

Dr. Chow said genetic testing is most helpful in diagnosing behavioral FTD and primary progressive aphasia (PPA), which affects patients’ ability to use language. 

For those cases, up to 40% of the patients share a common genetic mutation.

The first step is to meet with a genetics counselor who can explain the potential consequences of learning the results. 

"Sometimes even the people who should know don't want to know — and we all have to respect that," said Dr. Chow. 

Development efforts are ongoing, including clinical trials, but there is no current FDA-approved treatment for FTD, said Chow.

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"For now, to minimize the risk of FTD or any other dementia, people can adopt overall lifestyle improvements such as heart-healthy choices and avoiding head trauma, which also promotes brain health," the doctor said.

The condition typically progresses over time, Johns Hopkins states on its website. 

Patients can also seek treatments to alleviate symptoms, such as speech therapy or the use of antidepressants. 

Eventually, those with FTD may need full-time care.

Approximately 50,000-60,000 people may have FTD, per data from the Alzheimer’s Association, a nonprofit group based in Chicago.

In addition to Bruce Willis, other celebrities that have been diagnosed with dementia over the years have included Ronald Reagan, Rita Hayworth, Robin Williams, Casey Kasem and Charlton Heston. 

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

The post Teachers’ union pleads with landowners to clear lots near schools of vines appeared first on Barbados Today.

The official assured that the ministry’s and the community’s joint interventions, vaccination, house-to-house visits, and the epidemiological fence will be maintained.

“Thank God, many of these cases that appear are mild, which is why hospitalization remains well controlled and low,” he said, adding that this does not mean that the disease’s overall situation has been resolved. “We’re not going to say it’s under control; that’s impossible,” the minister declared. Rivera stated that “it depends on people washing their hands before and after going to the bathroom, and before each meal, cooking food well because many of the people we have detected with cholera consumed poorly cooked food or in inadequate outlets in order to achieve control levels”.

“We’re doing well, the population is cooperating with vaccination,” he said. The goal is to have 24 thousand doses applied by the end of this week. The official reiterated that it is “an individual decision” and praised those who “take care of cleanliness and hygiene in their homes.”

The consequences of having an unsafe abortion, whether because the woman ingested pills or another substance or because it was induced by another person, can range from emotional consequences to permanent anemia, mutilations, irreversible damage to the uterus, and even death.

This is how Dr. César López, president of the Dominican Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, explains it, noting that in cases like this, where a woman’s life is put in danger, especially if she is an adolescent, no one is innocent, and there are responsibilities from all sectors, including a lack of sexual education in schools and the family itself. “Provoking or inducing an abortion will always be dangerous, and even more so if all the conditions that must be met, such as asepsis, correct anesthesia, and the expertise of the doctor who performs it, are not met,” he explained.

However, recent studies have shown that abortions are safe if performed between 70 days of gestation. Abortions are considered safe when they are “performed using a method recommended by WHO that is appropriate to the pregnancy duration and the person providing or supporting the abortion is trained,” according to experts such as Fathalla. “The WHO definition recognizes that the people, skills, and medical standards considered safe in the provision of induced abortions are different for medical abortion (which is performed with drugs alone), and surgical abortion (which is performed with a manual or electric aspirator), and that skills and medical standards required for safe abortion also vary depending upon the duration of the pregnancy and evolving scientific advances”.

The same studies state that abortions are considered less safe if they meet either the method or the provider criterion but not both. As a result, abortion is considered less safe when performed using outdated methods such as sharp curettage, even if the provider is trained, or when women using tablets lack access to proper information or a trained person if they require assistance.

14, 2021) – Doctor Alejandro Cambiaso, president of the Dominican Association of Health Tourism (ADTS), and Amelia Reyes Mora, president of AF Comunicación Estratégica, announced the celebration of the most important medical tourism event in Central America and the Caribbean, the “VI International Health and Wellness Tourism Congress,” which will be held on November 1 and 2 of this year, at the JW Marriott Hotel, in Santo Domingo.

“The activity features important conferences and panels with renowned national and international speakers, aimed at the top players of the sector, such as health centers, dentistry, clinical and pharmaceutical laboratories, hotels, insurers, banks, investment funds, investment, airlines, medical facilitators, government, transportation, legal advisors, accreditors, among others,” said Dr. Alejandro Cambiaso.

Medical tourism annually mobilizes more than 21 million people worldwide, presenting an annual growth rate of approximately 20%, constituting a market that oscillates between 74 and 92 billion dollars, according to Patients Beyond Borders.

“This international congress constitutes a platform for multi-sector integration, innovation, networking, business development, and investment opportunities, and public-private synergies at a local and international level,” expressed Amelia Reyes Mora.

The 2020-2021 Medical Tourism Index, the top ranking of the sector, included nine Latin American nations among the 46 most attractive countries for Americans to receive health services: Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, Panama, Jamaica, Mexico, and Guatemala, which motivates us to draw up joint strategies to strengthen our regional positioning.

This prominent event, which was organized by the ADTS and the Communication and Public Relations firm, AF Comunicación Estratégica, has brought together in its last two recent editions more than 800 participants and around 70 local exhibitors, Canada, Costa Rica, the United States, India, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Panama, Spain, Colombia and Caribbean islands and more than 110 sponsors.

For more information about the event, registrations, and sponsorships, access the web portal: https://congresoadts.com/  (809) 567-2663.

About the Dominican Health Tourism Association (ADTS, for its acronym in Spanish): The Dominican Health Tourism Association is a non-profit organization that promotes the Dominican Republic as an ideal place for health tourism, because of its high-quality, cost-effective medical, dental, and wellness services, hospitality conditions, attractive geographical position, and climate.

“Using evidence and stories of real young people, the campaign will encourage Caribbean youth to be agents of climate change for action”

View the full post CCCCC #Betterclimate4MyHealth campaign on NOW Grenada.

Patients who get sepsis while hospitalized are 43% more likely to return to the hospital for a stroke or any cardiac event, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. 

The risk rises to 51% for heart failure alone.

The study included more than 2.2 million patients who spent at least two nights in the hospital during a 10-year span — 800,000 of them were diagnosed with sepsis. 

SEPSIS, THE 'HIDDEN KILLER,' MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR 1 IN 5 DEATHS WORLDWIDE, STUDY SHOWS

The patients ranged in age from 19 to 87 years old, with an average age of 64.

Sepsis is "the body’s extreme response to an infection" and is considered a "life-threatening medical emergency," according to the CDC.

The condition occurs when an existing infection spreads throughout the body. 

If it’s not caught and treated early, sepsis can damage tissues and cause organs to shut down. 

Of the 1.7 million adults who develop sepsis in America each year, more than 20% will die in the hospital or go into hospice care, per CDC data.

Dr. Jacob C. Jentzer, director of the cardiac intensive care research unit at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, led the new study. He explained that all participants had prior cardiac disease or cardiovascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, kidney disease or diabetes. 

5 SIMPLE WAYS TO HELP PREVENT HEART DISEASE THIS YEAR

They knew the risk level was already fairly consistent before considering the added effect of sepsis.

"Patients who survive sepsis are at a substantially higher risk of death and hospitalization for all outcomes, but the risk for cardiovascular events is particularly high," Dr. Jentzer told Fox News Digital. 

Given that cardiovascular disease is still one of the biggest causes of potentially preventable deaths in Americans, he said he sees the sepsis diagnosis as a helpful warning sign.

The doctor expected to find a higher risk among sepsis patients, but one finding did surprise him. 

CARE ABOUT YOUR HEART? TRY GETTING BETTER SLEEP, NEW STUDY SUGGESTS

"It was a bit unexpected that some of the lower-risk groups were the ones that had the strongest effect from sepsis," he said.

"If you have patients who are fairly high-risk already and the risk goes up a little bit, that's obviously bad — but not quite as bad as having someone who otherwise might do well, and then seeing that they have a much higher risk," Dr. Jentzer said.

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The key takeaway, he said, is awareness and prevention. 

Even after full recovery, someone who survived sepsis should take steps to minimize other risk factors for cardiovascular disease. 

"The fact that these patients survived sepsis makes it at least as important, if not more important, to monitor those factors," Dr. Jentzer noted. 

"It's key that they have all the essential medicines and make sure all the different components of cardiovascular risk — like blood pressure and lipids and other things — are very well-controlled," he said. 

Burnout is a state of exhaustion and physical fatigue an employee can experience while at work, which has been caused by work-related stress. The reality is that workplace stress will always exist, but what is pertinent is how we handle and manage this stress for our employees, so it does not lead to burnout. As managers, the onus rests on us to acknowledge the presence or existence of stress, address it, and rectify it, to ensure and foster a positive workplace culture. This new year affords us the opportunity to combat burnout for the sake of our employees and our businesses. This article will discuss the causes of burnout in the workplace, its symptoms, and how to prevent or mitigate it.

Root causes of burnout 

Sometimes employees can inflict work-related stress upon themselves when they have poor time management, a poor work ethic, or undertake too many responsibilities. Even though this is not caused by management, it is still something that requires our attention as it can affect productivity or the employee’s health. Unfortunately, failure to offer any assistance or solution creates an organisational issue, as it then points to poor management or leadership. 

However, something that appears to be prevalent or common amongst several organisations is that, even though burnout can be caused by the employee, many times, burnout is still attributable to the  organisation. As employers, we remember that “perspective” goes a long way and is very critical to positive continuity. Viewing things from the perspective of an employee creates the necessary balance between human leadership and making good operational decisions. Failure to create this balance will result in missing the critical organisational issues which can lead to burnout. 

 It is very important that we assess and analyse certain factors, not just from an operational standpoint, but from a people standpoint as well, to determine the long-term outcome or effect. The onus rests on us as leaders to put strategies in place to mitigate or prevent burnout where and when reasonably practicable to do so. The below causes are primarily linked to the  organisation: 

Unsupportive managers 

It may be a hard pill to swallow, but the reality is that some employees do not leave their job because they dislike their job, but they leave their job because of their manager and the environment their manager has created. The behaviour and leadership skills of management are very critical aspects of preventing burnout as direct managers are the primary source of support and contact for employees daily. Employees need to feel comfortable that they can talk and address any issues with their managers and receive the help which is required or necessary feedback. 

Unmanageable workload

An employee can experience an unmanageable workload when it feels like they have too much to do or complete, especially within a certain timeframe. This problem can stem either from the overload of duties and responsibilities on the job description, inadequate staff training to carry out the duties and responsibilities effectively and efficiently, or even having insufficient personnel to carry out the required functions. As employers, it is crucial that we detect the problem and intervene before it leads to burnout or resignation.

Unfair treatment at work

Unfair treatment in the workplace might take the form of discrimination, harassment, or the denial of equal opportunities. When identifying unfair treatment as an employer, whether through observation or complaints submitted through the grievance procedure, it is vital that these issues be handled immediately. Failure to do such can have negative effects on culture and the health and wellness of employees. 

Poor communication throughout the  organisation 

Communication is one of the primary contributors to employee engagement in the workplace. Not only does communication matter but also the quality of such communication, as communication can affect both efficiency and culture. When inefficient, it can increase factors such as workload, leading to unwarranted burnout.

Mitigating factors

To help you recognise burnout and learn how to prevent or lessen it, please see the table below, which is not exhaustive:

Conclusion 

In conclusion, burnout can be about your workplace and when it is about your workplace, there are ways in which it can be rectified and mitigated. When identified, the causes of organisational burnout can cost your business or company money, so it is critical for the causes to be addressed swiftly and effectively. Yes, employee burnout can happen at the fault of the employee when resources, etc. are not managed or utilised properly. However, since it affects the workplace and environment, it is still important for employers to take action to remedy the situation. Together, with the right strategies and action plans, we can prevent both employee and employer-caused burnout in the workplace.

Katriel Pile, Attorney-at-Law and Human Resources Specialist

Dylan Downes, Group Human Resources Manager

The post #PeopleMatters – Can burnout be about your workplace… not your employees? appeared first on Barbados Today.

Health (WHO).nIn his weekly press conference, the first in three years in which he did not mention covid-19 in his initial presentation, CEO Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that 23 countries in the world are currently suffering from outbreaks (Haiti being one of the most affected).

Tedros gave the example of Syria, where 85,000 cases of a disease have been detected which makes the situation even more difficult in a country also hit by more than a decade of civil war and this week by the serious earthquake in the north of its territory.

The director general recalled that cholera is transmitted especially through contaminated water, so the supply of clean drinking water is urgent wherever outbreaks are detected. “Countries at risk must increase surveillance, so that possible cases are identified and treated as soon as possible,” said the Ethiopian expert.