Santo Domingo.- The National Observatory for Consumer Protection (ONPECO) has voiced strong support for a Ministry of Public Health resolution that promotes the implementation of Front-of-Pack Nutritional Warning Labels (EFAN) in the Dominican Republic. According to ONPECO, this measure is essential to uphold citizens’ right to know what they are consuming and to make informed choices that may reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases.

The organization stressed that EFAN does not require companies to change product formulas, but simply aims to provide clear information so consumers can decide for themselves. ONPECO criticized the resistance to the initiative, noting that it mirrors successful policies in other Latin American countries like Mexico, Chile, and Argentina, where no economic or employment impacts have been recorded.

Citing a study by the Healthy America Coalition (CLAS), ONPECO addressed and dismissed myths promoted by some industries—such as claims that WHO/PAHO nutrient standards are too strict or that EFAN harms the economy. It reaffirmed that the WHO guidelines are science-based and that transparent labeling aligns with global standards like ISO 26000 on corporate responsibility and the OECD’s calls for clear food information.

Finally, ONPECO urged broad dissemination of the resolution, reiterating that the Dominican State is constitutionally obligated to protect public health and ensure consumers’ right to accurate product information.

The lack of early autism screening in Barbados remains a major concern, according to the President of the Barbados Autism Association, Frank Johnson, who hopes that public events like the Autism Heroes Walk will help raise awareness and drive change.

“The main challenge is getting screening for the children early enough. A child should really be screened at three years old. It’s a little difficult screening before three, but if a child has missed developmental milestones . . . you really should become aware that there may be a challenge involved,” Johnson said on Monday, as over 200 men, women, and children took part in the annual Autism Heroes Fun and Wellness Walk and Cool Down Fair.

Beyond early diagnosis, Johnson pointed to other issues, including the absence of reliable national data on autism.

“We don’t have strict numbers here in Barbados,” he explained. “There has not been what I call a census taken of the exact number of children with this disability.

“The last national census that was done… it didn’t focus on a particular developmental challenge, which I think it should do.”

He also highlighted a critical shortage of trained professionals, saying: “We do need more specialists. We need more occupational therapists, and speech therapists or speech and pathology specialists. They do a fantastic job, but they are oversubscribed.”

However, for many families, the cost of private screening and therapy remains a heavy burden.

“A lot of our parents have to pay privately for consultants to carry out screening and testing . . . . Getting it done privately is expensive . . . but as I say to parents out there: think of it as an investment in your child’s future.

“A lot of young parents . . . have no idea what they’re up against . . . except that they know there is something wrong. They go to their GP or the polyclinic and report that their child is missing the developmental milestones.”

To address these challenges, Johnson said the association is working on forming partnerships that would make screening more affordable.

“In the near future, possibly working with insurance companies to provide support grants to parents who cannot afford the intervention. If we can swing that towards those groups in the next couple of years, we will be making fantastic strides.”

In addition to those efforts, the association is preparing to expand its physical presence. A new headquarters in the Garrison area is currently being renovated, which Johnson hopes will become a hub for affordable, accessible support and therapy.

“We are just about to finish our renovated building, which has been granted to us by the government,” he said. “We’ve taken out a lease for ten years, with a renewable ten years, just around the corner from the Barbados Council for the Disabled.

“We hope to go into partnership with speech therapists and occupational therapists to be able to offer subsidised programmes. We do see ourselves as providing many different answers . . . for all income brackets.”

He added that the association is launching new initiatives to support those families emotionally and mentally. (LG)

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Almost all eligible persons in Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) have taken the vaccine that protects against the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer, Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony said Sunday. “I was just in Region Nine a day ago (Saturday) and I was talking to the people there and I was ...

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A sharp rise in cases of gonorrhoea, syphilis and chlamydia among young adults has prompted health authorities to warn of a growing public health threat, despite stable rates in HIV infection, the virus that leads to AIDS.

Senior medical officer of health in the Ministry of Health, Dr Dale Babb, revealed on Wednesday that although HIV prevalence in Barbados is currently stable, other STIs are on the rise.

“HIV is not gone,” he said. “Our prevalence in Barbados is currently one per cent. We registered 107 persons for care in 2024, and that is similar to the average number that is registered per year.”

Dr Babb noted improvements in early detection and treatment of HIV, but warned that the public must not overlook the spread of other infections.

He said: “What I want to caution the public about is to remember the other STIs—syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia—are often forgotten about, even though I hear, repeatedly, persons saying that they don’t hear about HIV anymore. It hasn’t gone anywhere, but guess what else hasn’t gone? Syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhoea.”

Over the last two years, there have been shifting patterns, with gonorrhoea cases increasing significantly, particularly among men, the senior health official said.

“What we have noticed in the last two years, 2023 and 2024, is an increase in the number of cases of gonorrhoea and chlamydia, and in 2024, an uptick in the number of syphilis cases,” she said.

“In the past, we always would have noticed more females than males with both chlamydia and gonorrhoea. But in 2023 and 2024, we’ve noticed an almost equal proportion of males and females with gonorrhoea.”

“The number of females with gonorrhoea has not been rising to contribute to that difference that we’re seeing, but it is the number of males that has risen,” Dr Babb explained.

The increase in cases is most prevalent among people in their twenties, she reported.

“The age group most commonly where we see the rise is the 20 to 24 age group in males and females.”

While the number of chlamydia cases has climbed slightly, the positivity rate has remained steady.

“Chlamydia rates, although numbers have risen, the overall positivity rate has not. So what we’re seeing with chlamydia is a consistent, I don’t want to say steady, but a steady number of cases, whereas gonorrhoea is going up and syphilis is going up.”

Dr Babb reminded the public about the importance of responsible sexual behaviour.

“Let us please not forget the other STIs and the way we prevent all of them is similar, it’s the same. Having one partner consistently, knowing your status, using a condom each and every time, and practising safer sexual practices.”

The Ministry of Health plans to ramp up public education, condom distribution and free testing through ongoing outreach efforts. These initiatives aim to reach vulnerable populations and foster healthier, more informed communities. (LG)

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Officials are moving ahead with reforms to Barbados’ mental health care system, including the launch of a national Employee Care Programme to support the well-being of health care workers.

The announcement was made by Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Davidson Ishmael, during the Psychiatric Hospital’s Awards Ceremony held on Saturday night at Mahogany Ridge.

Cyd Birch- Prescott (right) received the Grace Bailey Award, presented by Psychiatric Hospital Director David Leacock.

Themed Excellence Should Be Our Hallmark, the event honoured outstanding staff and long-serving members of the hospital community.
Minister Ishmael outlined a vision for Barbados’ mental health system. “I have a vision that this Psychiatric Hospital and its team will be a sterling example, the standard bearers, the gold standard of mental health care in the Caribbean and maybe even the world,” he declared.

“The Government of Barbados, through the Ministry of Health and Wellness, remains steadfast in its commitment to investing in a modern, people-centred mental health system. We do not only speak of reform, we act on it, and we act boldly because we believe that mental health is not a privilege; it is a right.”

Recent reforms include the strategic expansion of community-based mental health services with the integration of multidisciplinary teams—psychologists, social workers, and other professionals—into the island’s polyclinic network.

“These teams are now more present and better integrated across our network of polyclinics, ensuring that all citizens regardless of income, geography, or background have access to comprehensive mental health services close to their homes,” the minister said.

Infrastructure upgrades are also underway. The hospital’s outpatient department is slated for reopening, and renovations to the observation ward are in progress to ensure alignment with international standards.

Another initiative is a national training plan to ensure that both clinical and interpersonal skills align with global standards. The focus will be on patient rights, de-escalation techniques, and the integration of physical and mental health services. To strengthen early detection and frontline care, public health nurses are being trained in Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) competencies to better support individuals experiencing mental health challenges.

“I call upon all staff to appreciate and maximise the investment being made, not only in the physical plant or the technology, but in you, our most important assets,” Ishmael told the hospital workers.

Reflecting on the purpose of the evening, he noted, “This event is a celebration of dedication, of excellence, and of the unwavering commitment to service that defines each and every one of you who are here tonight.

“In mental health, excellence takes in even deeper meaning. It requires not only clinical knowledge and technical skill, but profound empathy, patience, resilience and an unwavering belief in human dignity.”

He encouraged a society-wide approach to mental health advocacy, noting that “many people need a lifting hand, a word of comfort—sometimes just a hug—and that can help them to come back to reality”.

During the ceremony, awards were presented in recognition of long service and outstanding contributions. Recipients of the Hospital Director’s Awards were Selvin Greenidge, Michelle Moore, and Rodney Stuart. The prestigious Grace Bailey Award was presented to Cyd Birch-Prescott. Soca performer Peter Ram was one of the recipients of the Friends of Psychi Awards for his continued support of their initiatives.

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Santo Domingo.- Starting this Monday, an immigration verification protocol will be implemented in 33 public hospitals across the Dominican Republic as part of President Luis Abinader’s strategy to address irregular Haitian immigration. The General Directorate of Immigration (DGM) stated that the measure aims to regulate care for foreign patients, enforce immigration laws, and protect the sustainability of the public healthcare system.

Under this protocol, immigration inspectors will check patients’ legal documentation, including valid ID, proof of residence, work letters, and ability to pay for services. Patients who lack these documents will still receive medical care, but once recovered, will be repatriated. This follows President Abinader’s recent address urging undocumented Haitians to leave voluntarily or face deportation.

Vice Admiral Luis Rafael Lee Ballester, Director of the DGM, emphasized that the policy will be carried out with respect for due process and human rights, especially in sensitive cases such as children, pregnant women, and critical patients. In preparation, the DGM and National Health Service (SNS) conducted training with hospital staff to coordinate implementation. Since the president’s mass deportation order in October 2024, over 180,000 Haitians have been deported despite international concern over conditions in Haiti.