The Ministry of Health and Wellness is currently investigating suspected cases of an infectious skin disease in a section of the Geriatric Hospital.

It said in a statement that it is using all available resources at its disposal, both within the public and private sectors to identify, treat and eradicate the problem at the Beckles Road, St Michael facility.

To contain any spread, the ministry has suspended visiting by members of the public to Units 1 and 2 of the hospital until further notice.

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For the first time in its 21-year history, athletes in the Barbados National Senior Games will not only be competing for personal glory, they will also be carrying the pride of their constituencies.

As the 2025 edition of the Games launched on Saturday with a colourful motorcade through Bridgetown, competitors beamed with excitement at the chance to represent their home communities on the national stage, adding a fresh layer of purpose and rivalry to the long-standing celebration of active ageing.

Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Kirk Humphrey, said remaining active is key to maintaining good health.

“As you know, Barbados is an ageing society. We believe that if you are active, you live longer and live better and that is what the Senior Games are about,” he told the crowd gathered at Golden Square Freedom Park. “From the very beginning, that was the idea behind the Games.”

Opening with a motorcade that departed from Pelican Village, the convoy which included energetic cheerleaders, athletes, and representatives from participating sporting bodies, made their way through the streets of Bridgetown before arriving at Golden Square Freedom Park.

A standout moment during the 30-minute movement session led by fitness instructor Spinny came when he invited 71-year-old attendee Audrey Archer on stage for the “Follow my Lead” segment. Rising to the occasion, Archer demonstrated that age is truly just a number as she displayed her dance skills to Quan De Artist’s Crop Over tune Waistline.

Members of the National Assistance Board Unity Dancers further energised the atmosphere, skilfully incorporating fans into their line dancing routine and drawing cheers from the crowd. Entertainment was also provided by RPB and TC who maintained the party vibe.

More than 300 participants have registered so far, with athletes expected from Brazil, the United States, Trinidad, and St Lucia.

Coordinator Ytannia Wiggins, told Barbados TODAY, “For the National Senior Games this year, this portion of the year we have dedicated it to track and field events. On May 31, it is going to be the field events, held at Queens College, and that is going to be all throws.”

This will be followed by the road race on June 1 with cycling, walking, running and for the first time the skating community will be participating.  This event will take place at 6 a.m. on the Mighty Grynner Highway.

The marquee event, which will see the athletes hitting the track, will be held on June 9th at the Usain Bolt Complex.

Registration remains open and can be completed online. (STT)

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A spike in violent crime, including a record number of gun-related deaths, is overwhelming the Accident & Emergency (A&E) Department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), with senior officials warning that the toll on staff and resources is becoming unsustainable.

The violence is disrupting operations and traumatising frontline healthcare workers, said CEO Neil Clark, describing the effects of the unseen toll of criminal violence on public health infrastructure as far-reaching and deeply felt within the hospital.

“Absolutely. It has a major impact on the QEH,” he said. “The staff clearly will treat anybody who comes in, but having to treat somebody who’s coming with gunshots is not only slowing down everybody else who’s coming without the gunshots, it slows down the whole department and the department moves into lockdown.”

As of Wednesday, Barbados had recorded 17 gun-related deaths.

Clark stressed that while A&E staff remain committed, fear and psychological distress have become routine parts of their job.

“There’s also a fear amongst the staff that that might continue into the department. So they’re treating people and being nervous at the same time,” he said. “Our security team is excellent… but sometimes those injuries are horrific and that has its toll… especially as a child [is] involved in a shooting.”

The emotional burden, the hospital boss added, is compounded by the sheer unpredictability and scale of trauma cases staff must face.

“They’ve got the normal, mild conditions of people turning up with mild illnesses or they’ve twisted their wrist, and then the next minute they’ve got a multiple shooting coming in… and then after that they’re supposed to go back to work normally,” he pointed out.

He called on the public to show greater empathy and understanding, noting that frustration over long wait times should not be directed at individual nurses or doctors.

“They’re doing their best,” he said. “We have to take our hats off to those people who work in A&E and do this day in, day out.”

Director of Nursing Services Henderson Pinder added that the psychological cost of repeated exposure to violent trauma is mounting across departments.

“These are psychologically hurtful incidents… and they do have an effect on not only nurses, [but] all the staff,” Pinder explained. “We have what we call a huddle after these incidents… but in most instances, it’s more than that. So we need to have outside counsellors and bereavement persons come in to help staff work through this.”

Beyond the emotional fallout, Pinder said that violence consumes precious human and material resources: “We have to use a lot of individuals, specialists, doctors… and we as a small country can ill afford to be using so much resources. It would be better if we could cut out the violence and live as a peaceful nation.”

He also flagged ongoing concerns about security, with fears of retaliation even when patients are hospitalised.

“When they get on the ward there’s always the fear of retaliation… so it places additional strain on our security personnel and puts our nurses… always having to quell these disputes,” Pinder noted.

Clark said the QEH has mental health support in place but recognises the need to scale it up.

“We already have counselling support available for all staff… and we’re hoping to expand that as part of the QEH strategy,” he said. “We’re even looking at mental health first aid training.”

The CEO highlighted a gap in national preparedness around recognising and addressing stress and anxiety, saying: “A lot of people suffer silently… and we have to look after our own staff and each other.”

Speaking more broadly about the A&E, Clarke said the hospital is making progress on a systemic redesign of its A&E Department to ease bottlenecks and improve overall patient care.

“We’re about a quarter of the way through a redesign of our A&E flow,” he said. “It’s not just about the A&E Department… it becomes the bottleneck for the whole healthcare system.”

Clark explained that improving patient flow requires action at every level – from the triage process to diagnostics, ward admissions, and discharges.

“Everybody who arrives at the A&E should be triaged within 15 minutes by a nurse… if not, there’s an escalation process,” he said. 

The hospital CEO admitted that delays persist but insisted patients are not neglected once they enter the system.

“They may be in A&E for two days but they’re still under the care of the specialist doctor,” he said. “It’s no different than if they were on the ward…, but I accept it’s not the right place for that treatment to be taking place, and we hope to change that in the near future.” 

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb

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The healthcare system is risking collapse unless urgent investment is made in its nursing workforce, the director of nursing services at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) has warned, highlighting chronic understaffing, unsafe working conditions, and high rates of migration among nurses as key threats.

Addressing the Barbados Nurses Association’s (BNA) Nurses Week seminar at the Barbados Beach Club on Wednesday, Henderson Pinder issued a call to policymakers, unions, and national leaders to act decisively, saying the nursing sector is “in the midst of an unprecedented crisis”.

“You may realise that even when strained and under-resourced and under pressure, our nurses are making a huge impact,” Pinder told attendees. “But the Barbados nursing workforce is under threat-from chronic understaffing, unsafe work conditions, and an alarming rate of migration by skilled professionals.”

The 2025 theme, Our Nurses. Our Future. The Economic Power of Care, selected by the International Council of Nurses (ICN), served as the backdrop for a wide-ranging and impassioned address that touched on Barbados’ public health vulnerabilities, workforce policy failures, and the undervaluing of the nursing profession.

“I see a bright future,” said Pinder, “but we must take action to diminish the threats to safe, supported and healthy work conditions that will attract future nurses and retain dedicated nurses who are the key to providing better health and causing a thriving society.”

Pinder argued that strategic investment in nursing could be transformative — not just for healthcare, but for the country’s economy. Citing global data, he noted that poor workforce health can carry enormous economic costs, while effective investment in employee wellbeing yields returns as high as US$11.7 trillion ($23.4 trillion), according to the McKinsey Health Institute.

“Nurses are the most valuable assets in our healthcare system,” he said. “We are the heart of care. Caring for our nurses is a wise investment in the health and the wellbeing of our nation.”

But, he warned that Barbados has been slow to take meaningful action.

Attendees at the Barbados Nurses Association’s (BNA) Nurses Week seminar. (SZB)

“We’ve analysed the problem, however we have not tackled the problem. We have implemented short-term fixes or we have thrown money at the problem, but the problem continues.”

While acknowledging some progress in nurse-led care models, such as diabetic and skin integrity clinics at the QEH, Pinder said these successes were not enough to offset the broader failings of the system.

“As a country, we have not properly managed our health workforce,” he said. “We continue to make decisions that undervalue and undermine nurses.”

Beyond staffing and compensation, the nursing director highlighted disturbing trends of workplace violence and burnout, especially against female nurses, who make up 87 per cent of the workforce.

“Nurses face an escalating threat to their safety, particularly from workplace violence,” he said, referencing both patient aggression and conflicts with co-workers. “But what is worrying-some nurses also reported that unfortunately they face violence from co-workers.”

He urged nurses not to remain silent: “I wish to encourage you, all of you, not to normalise violence… Every time it happens, report.”

The cumulative pressures of the profession-coupled with stagnant salaries and limited career progression-are fuelling attrition and deterring future entrants, he said.

“We are failing to face and address the core issues that are driving experienced nurses to leave the profession and deter new nurses from joining the workforce.”

Drawing from recent ICN research by the Rosemary Bryant Research Centre, Pinder cited a global shortfall of over nine million nurses and called for structural reform, both internationally and at home.

“To bring the situation under control, we need another 30 million healthcare workers globally. Barbados must do its part,” he stressed.

He also took aim at the overreliance on short-term fixes such as international recruitment and the task-shifting of responsibilities to less skilled workers.

“In many instances, this fails to address the cause of nurse retention and recruitment-and in some cases, is actually worsening the problem.”

Instead, Pinder proposed strengthening the national nursing pipeline, beginning with the Barbados Community College.

“Our solution must ensure that the Barbados healthcare system is well-supplied, well-equipped, well-supported with nurses.”

Despite the gravity of the crisis, Pinder ended on a hopeful note, urging collective action built on one foundational principle: caring.

“Caring is one of the core values of our nursing profession,” he said. “Therefore, caring for our nurses must go beyond offering support in response to physical and emotional challenges. We must address the structural challenges and the drivers of our workforce crises.

“The need for action is now. Not next week. Investing in our nurses will benefit our healthcare system, translate to better patient outcomes, a better economy… We have the power to shape the landscape of nurses, the quality of care, and Barbados’ future.”

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb

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The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) has temporarily scaled back surgical services as it undertakes major upgrades to its Main Operating Theatre’s air handling system and supporting equipment.

The hospital announced in a statement on Wednesday that it is in the process of replacing, redesigning, and upgrading the Air Handler Unit (AHU) system, while also addressing technical issues with the chillers that support the AHU.

Completion of the project is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, May 21, 2025, weather permitting and barring unforeseen delays.

During this period, only emergency and urgent surgeries will be performed at the QEH. Some procedures have been relocated to the Obstetrics Theatre, and the hospital is working with partner institutions to conduct elective surgeries offsite where possible.

In a statement, the QEH assured the public that these adjustments are necessary to improve the reliability and efficiency of its surgical services.

For further assistance, patients may contact the QEH Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS/Help Desk) at 536-4800.

The works being carried out are part of the hospital’s $130 million Capital Expenditure (CapEx) Programme for 2025, which is aimed at modernising its infrastructure and improving care delivery.

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Doctors are warning that every minute counts – at least no more than 180 – for people experiencing a stroke, as new figures reveal persistently high incidence rates and a lack of urgent action is putting lives in jeopardy.

Consultant neurologist Dr Simeona Jacinto revealed during the season three finale of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s Pulse radio show on Monday that Barbados records approximately 1.4 strokes per 1 000 people, with 70 per cent of cases linked to high blood pressure and one in three patients also diabetic.

She stressed that stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability in the Caribbean and the second deadliest condition globally.

“The earlier you come for management, the more likely we can limit brain damage,” Dr Jacinto said, urging the public to remember the FAST acronym – face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, time to call 511.

“The best stroke treatment is prevention – but if a stroke happens, act fast and call for help immediately.”

Consultant Emergency Physician Dr Anne-Marie Cruickshank. (FP)

Further underscoring the severity of the condition, consultant emergency physician Dr Anne-Marie Cruickshank, who heads the QEH Accident and Emergency Department, warned that doctors have just a three to four-hour window to administer life-saving treatment.

“Once symptoms begin, every second counts. The ambulance is your best option – they alert us ahead so we can be ready the moment you arrive,” she said.

The doctors also dispelled dangerous myths still common in the community, including the belief that strokes cannot be treated or should be managed at home with old remedies like nutmeg or Bible readings.

“We’ve moved past that,” Dr Cruickshank said. “We now have treatments like thrombolysis that can prevent further brain damage and even reverse some of the deficits.”

She also encouraged the public to enrol in emergency response training offered by the Heart and Stroke Foundation, including Heart Saver and Basic Life Support (BLS) courses.

“We need more people trained and more instructors. Public involvement is crucial,” she said. 

(SM)

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The 24-hour mental health hotline, Lifeline Barbados, has received well over 6 000 calls since its launch in April 2024 – evidence, said Minister of Health and Wellness Senator Jerome Walcott, of the nation’s growing reliance on accessible mental health support.

Delivering the feature address at the opening of the 69th CARPHA Health Research Conference on Wednesday, Senator Walcott described Lifeline Barbados as “a vital step towards ensuring accessible mental healthcare for all persons.”

“From February 1 to May 2, the helpline received 6 572 calls,” he disclosed. “Issues range from anxiety, depression, suicidal and homicidal ideation, substance abuse, and social challenges. There were 740 calls recorded last month—the highest number for a month since the start of the programme.”

He continued: “The data highlights ongoing reliance on this vital service. A high resolution rate and positive feedback affirm its crucial role in Barbados’ mental health landscape.”

Senator Walcott was speaking under the conference theme,Mental Health: A Hidden Epidemic, which he said captured the urgency of the issue and the need for “real solutions, collaboration across different groups, and strong support from leaders, organisations, and communities.”

“Mental health is not an adjunct to public health,” he asserted.

“It is foundational.”

The minister said the COVID-19 pandemic had “exposed the weaknesses in mental health support systems and showed how closely psychological wellbeing is connected to economic stability, education, and social resilience.”

Referencing data from the World Health Organisation, he noted a 25 per cent global rise in anxiety and depression since the onset of the pandemic.

To address the gaps in mental healthcare, Senator Walcott announced several legislative and strategic initiatives. These include the ongoing review and modernisation of Barbados’ mental health legislation in partnership with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), as well as the completion of a national mental health reform plan and roadmap to bring services in line with international best practices.

“The revised legislation, grounded in a human rights-based approach, will play a crucial role in promoting community integration, strengthening mental health services within primary care, and expanding access to quality care at the community level,” he said.

But he warned that institutional reforms alone would not be enough.

“The greatest obstacle we face is stigma. Stigma keeps too many of us silent. It delays treatment, deepens suffering, and in its most devastating form, leads to preventable loss of life. This cannot continue,” he declared.

“We must replace shame with empathy, silence with conversation, and fear with understanding. Only then can we create a society where mental health is recognised, supported, and prioritised for all.”

He called for a national cultural shift that starts “at the most personal level and extends into every institution,” including families, schools, churches, and Parliament. “We must work to normalise mental health dialogue in public and private spaces alike. We must amplify the voices of survivors and advocates and foster a climate in which seeking help is not regarded as a weakness, but recognised as an act of courage and strength.”

In a direct appeal to Barbadian youth, Walcott added: “We see you. We hear you. We understand the weight of the pressures you face—academic, emotional, digital and social. We know that too many of you are struggling in silence, feeling unheard and overlooked. That is why we are turning words into action.”

Additionally, he said the government is expanding schoolbased mental health programmes and peer support networks, while creating more platforms for youth voices to inform mental health policy.

Looking ahead, the minister laid out four pillars for a stronger regional mental health response: integrating mental health into national health and education policies; launching public awareness campaigns to reduce stigma; creating targeted interventions for vulnerable populations; and investing in data, infrastructure, and workforce training.

“Mental health is not a luxury, nor is it optional,” he said. “It is a fundamental human right. Our response must be rooted in shared responsibility, and it must be sustained by a collective will to act.” sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb

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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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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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