The Vector Control Unit will visit communities in St Michael and St Joseph when it conducts its fogging exercise this week.

The team will focus on mosquito breeding sites in St Michael, from Monday to Wednesday, before moving on to St Joseph on Thursday and Friday.

On Monday, the Unit will fog Hindsbury Road, Tudor Road, Dr Kerr Land, Mottley Land, Prescod Bottom, Brathwaite Road, Progressive Road, Field Gap, Country Road, Laundry Road and environs.

The Unit will concentrate its efforts on Station Hill, Goodings Road with avenues, Bellevue Gap, and Deane’s Village on Tuesday.

The following districts will be sprayed on Wednesday: Mansion Road, Lower Bank Hall Cross Road, Prince of Wales, Queen Mary Road, King George Road, King Edward Road, Queen Victoria Road, Buckingham Road, 2nd Avenue Sealy Land, Gilkes Road, Powder Road, and Happy Cot.

On Thursday, several areas in St Joseph will be targeted for fogging. These include Blackmans Tenantry, Horse Hill, Blackman Development, Tourville, Bonwell Road, Surinam Road, Vaughn Road Nos. 1, 2 and 3, and Quarry Road.

The fogging exercise for the week will conclude on Friday, in the following St Joseph communities: Gaggs Hill, Hillswick Road, Phillips Road, Cleavers Hill, Bathsheba, Elizabeth Village, St Elizabeth New Road, and Foster Hall.

Fogging takes place from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. daily. Householders are reminded to open their windows and doors to allow the spray to enter. Children should not be allowed to play in the spray.

Members of the public are advised that the completion of scheduled fogging activities may be affected by events beyond the Unit’s control. In such circumstances, the Unit will return to communities affected in the soonest possible time.

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Vaccine coverage among primary school aged children remains high, but still not at optimum levels, the Ministry of Health says.

The ministry says the last statistics recorded at the end of 2023, show that there has been a promising improvement in vaccination rates over the years, but the 95 per cent coverage point has still not been achieved.

The statement said, “Barbados in 2023, coverage of primary vaccines was 85 per cent for Diphtheria tetanus toxoid and pertussis [DTP3] and Polio and MMR1 and 2 was 90 per cent and 76 per cent respectively. This was an improvement from the coverage achieved in 2021 and 2022 for MMR, however, the DTP3 and Polio3 coverage was similar to that seen in 2020 and slightly less than that for 2022. Overall, the coverage of primary vaccines is still below the targeted 95 percent coverage.”

Meanwhile, Veronica Kirton, acting senior health sister at the Edgar Cochrane Polyclinic, told Barbados TODAY on Saturday during a visit to the facility, that there has been a steady flow of parents bringing their children in for their shots.

“Right now we are seeing a steady flow of persons coming in for the vaccines, we’ve not really had any vaccine hesitancy per say. We’ve had some children who would have defaulted, and because we are open today, Saturday, which we normally wouldn’t do, we’ve had a few parents coming in bringing their children for the vaccines,” she said.  

Kirton pointed out that Mondays are typically designated as childhood days at the polyclinic, which typically covered vaccination appointments. She added that there has been a consistent flow of children, aged two months to five years, as well as those seeking to update their vaccinations after sitting the Common Entrance Examinations.

“What we do is that we organise a programme where we do a particular school on a set day and then after that, we have a day where persons who probably would have missed the vaccines would come on that day to get the vaccines.

“[On average] we tend to get probably 20 children per week at this location, coming in.” (SB)

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Speaking at the association’s third quarterly general meeting at Stade’s Rum Visitors Centre in Brighton on Friday, BHTA Chairman Javon Griffith revealed that participation in the fund, established in 2003 to bolster tourism-related initiatives, has plummeted to a mere 26 per cent of hotel members.

“This is despite participation in the fund being a requirement of hotel membership via our articles of association. I cannot stress enough that this fund benefits the entire membership, but it’s being supported by a minority of hotel members,” Griffith said. “This situation is fundamentally wrong, and something which we will address over the coming weeks.”

The fund has historically financed various projects, including the restoration of the Holetown bridge, improvements to the Garrison Historic Area, and support for COVID-19 facilities. Contributions are primarily collected through a voluntary charge on hotel guests’ bills at checkout.

Griffith illustrated the potential impact of wider participation, stating that a 75-room hotel with typical seasonal occupancy could generate $59 000 annually for the fund, based on a US$2 ($4) per night contribution.

“I wish to see this fund grow to a level where the BHTA can make an even more significant contribution towards the tourism industry in collaboration with our partners at the BTMI,” he said, urging non-contributing members to contact the secretariat for information. (SB)

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Chair of the NCD Commission, Suleiman Bulbulia, told attendees that cooperation across various sectors is needed in order to combat the growing health issue among citizens. (SB)

Read full story in Wednesday’s epaper.

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Mosquito breeding sites in St Michael and Christ Church will be targeted by the Vector Control Unit this week.

The team will concentrate its efforts in St Michael for the first three days of the week. On Monday the Unit will visit Hindsbury Road, Tudor Bridge, Dr Kerr Land, Mottley Land, Prescod Bottom, Brathwaite Road, Progressive Road, Field Gap, Country Road, and Laundry Road.

The next day it will be the turn of 2nd Avenue Mannings Land, Peterkins Road, Bamboo Gap, Eagle Hall, Barbarees Hill, Monteith Gardens, Strathclyde, and surrounding areas.

On Wednesday the following districts will be sprayed: Mansion Road, Bank Hall Cross Road, Prince of Wales, Queen Mary Road, King George Road, King Edward Road, Queen Victoria Road, Buckingham Road, 2nd Avenue Sealy Land, Gilkes Road, Powder Road, and Happy Cot.

The Unit will then go into some Christ Church communities on Thursday. They are Fort George Heights, South Ridge, Upton Terrace, Kent Ridge, Little Kent, The Grove, St. David’s, Edey Village, and Staple Grove.

The fogging exercise for the week will conclude in St Michael, on Friday when the Unit goes into Station Hill, Powder Road, Savannah Road, 1st to 3rd Avenue Station Hill, Leinster Road, Waterford, Trainmore Lane, Longford Place,1st to 5th Avenue Park Road and the environs.

Fogging takes place from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. daily. Householders are reminded to open their windows and doors to allow the spray to enter. Children should not be allowed to play in the spray.

Members of the public are advised that the completion of scheduled fogging activities may be affected by events beyond the Unit’s control. In such circumstances, the Unit will return to communities affected in the soonest possible time. (PR)

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Chief Operating Officer of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) Dr Christina Grenidge is expecting major improvements at the healthcare institution as it prepares to welcome significant staffing enhancements aimed at boosting efficiency and improving patient care.

The strategic additions include the roles of patient safety officers, a service improvement manager, nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists.

Greenidge detailed the transformative potential these roles are expected to bring to the hospital. Particularly, the introduction of nurse practitioners is seen as a pivotal move to enhance service delivery in critical areas such as outpatient clinics and emergency rooms.

“They can work in two very important areas of the hospital — outpatient clinics and the emergency room,” Greenidge told The Pulse radio shown earlier this week. She emphasised the need for clear guidelines on their scope of practice within Barbados, noting their established effectiveness in other health systems like in the United States, where they prescribe medications and manage patient care plans in collaboration with physicians.

“Nurse practitioners have made a difference in primary care, helping patients with chronic conditions live healthier lives. They will undoubtedly play an integral role here at QEH,” she stressed.

Moreover, the role of patient safety officers is highlighted as crucial in maintaining and elevating safety standards within the hospital. These specialists will be tasked with overseeing all aspects of patient safety, from monitoring wait times to ensuring compliance with medical care plans.

“Patient safety is at the core of quality healthcare management. These officers will play a key role in monitoring and ensuring adherence to safety protocols, which is vital for patient outcomes,” stated Greenidge, herself a certified patient safety officer.

This staffing overhaul is part of a broader initiative to address the pressing healthcare professional shortage that is not only a local but a global issue, affecting many countries including the United States and Canada. To this end, the Barbados government plans to create 142 new registered nurse positions over the next two years and is looking to recruit internationally, including from Ghana.

The comprehensive plan to reform the nation’s healthcare system was announced by Prime Minister Mia Mottley at a recent Barbados Labour Party meeting at the St Christopher School in Christ Church South.

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A shocking discovery in Christ Church has left sanitation officials fuming. On Thursday, a dead pig was found dumped in a public waste bin in Silver Sands, prompting a stern rebuke from the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA).

“Cut it out,” declared Carl Padmore, public relations officer for the SSA, in response to the incident. He described the situation as “quite disturbing” and “extremely disrespectful”.

The carcass was discovered after a concerned resident alerted the authorities. While smaller animals have become a common sight in bins, this marks a disturbing escalation, according to Padmore.

“We have seen things like chickens already, we would have seen things like animal faeces, but to see this here is extremely disturbing. It shows a lack of respect,” Padmore told Barbados TODAY. “This is the biggest of the animals we have seen thus far, and this is taking disgust to a very high level.”

The SSA spokesman emphasised that proper channels exist for the disposal of dead animals, including a dedicated SSA hotline and services provided by the Ministry of Health. The matter has been reported to both the police and health authorities, and Padmore hopes for swift action against the perpetrator.

“We are going to go all out to investigate this matter, and we are hoping that the guilty person can be dealt with,” he said. “Now, we are not the law, we are not the Ministry of Health, but we will do all in our power to provide them with the necessary information, and if there is a possibility of any type of action, the SSA will support that because this really has gone too far and we can’t tolerate this.”

This latest incident highlights an ongoing issue faced by sanitation workers. Padmore revealed that employees regularly complain about foul odours emanating from bins, suspecting animal remains. In some cases, even human waste has been discovered.

“The workers are annoyed and they have a right to be, when this type of action is happening,” Padmore said. “These are humans removing your waste, and they should be treated with a high level of respect.”

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The Vector Control Unit will conduct its fogging programme in several Christ Church and St George districts this week, in its fight against mosquito-borne illnesses.

On Monday the team will spray Briar Hall Gardens Nos 1 to 3, Warners Terrace, Warners Park, Warners Park North, Vauxhall No 2, Vauxhall Gardens, Barracks Road, and surrounding areas.

The following day the Unit will target Adams Castle, Vauxhall, Sheraton Park, Elizabeth Park, and Regency Park.

It will be turn of Bartletts Tenantry, Sargeant’s Village, Browne’s Road, Garners Garden, Warners Garden, and Tino Terrace on Wednesday.

On Thursday Fort George Heights, South Ridge, Upton Terrace, Kent Ridge, Little Kent, The Grove, St David’s, and Staple Grove will be fogged.

The fogging exercise for the week will conclude in St George and Christ Church, on Friday in Hanson Crescent Drive, South District, Watts Village, Boarded Hall, Lower Greys, Dayrells Hill, Valley Vista, and Frere Pilgrim.

Fogging takes place from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. daily. Householders are reminded to open their windows and doors to allow the spray to enter. Children should not be allowed to play in the spray. Members of the public are advised that the completion of scheduled fogging activities may be affected by events beyond the Unit’s control. In such circumstances, the Unit will return to communities affected in the soonest possible time.

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The initiative, unveiled on Friday, aims to provide a structured yet supportive work environment where patients can receive training in various vocational skills, paving the way for their reintegration into society.

The project, designed to offer a structured yet supportive work environment for individuals with mental health challenges, will focus on skills such as carpentry, joinery, woodworking, furniture making, cabinetry, and furniture repair and refurbishment.

Maureen Graham, chairperson of the Legacy Foundation’s board of trustees, described the workshop as “a haven of opportunity” for hospital patients, and a critical component of the psychiatric hospital’s inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation programme.

“We believe that investing in such programmes is not just an act of charity, but rather a fundamental responsibility,”
Graham told the brief ceremony to launch the initiative. “By modernising, retooling, and upgrading this workshop, we aim to create an environment where participants can develop skills, build confidence, and take meaningful steps towards reintegrating into society.”

David Leacock, director of the hospital, emphasised the crucial role of sheltered workshops in the recovery process, stating that they were a stepping stone on the journey to recovery for those with mental health challenges and disabilities. Leacock added that the workshops also allowed these individuals to rediscover their strengths and experience the dignity that comes with making a contribution to society.

“These workshops are not merely places of employment, they are a sanctuary for empowerment and transformation,” the hospital director said.

The Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Davidson Ishmael, suggested that the initiative was a perfect example of the power of partnership. Collaborative efforts such as these, Ishmael said, were essential in helping vulnerable people. (SB)

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This advanced technology promises to revolutionise cancer treatment, offering patients more precise, effective, and potentially life-saving care, according to Paula Agbowu, the hospital’s director of engineering services.

“Coming up is the acquisition of a linear accelerator machine that will be used to help treat some of our oncology cases,” Christine Greenidge, the hospital’s chief operating officer, said during this week’s Pulse Radio programme.

The new linear accelerator, expected to be operational by year’s end, represents a significant upgrade from the hospital’s current cobalt-based technology. It will enable oncologists to deliver highly targeted radiation therapy, potentially improving outcomes and reducing side effects for cancer patients, according to Agbowu.

The director of engineering services highlighted the transformative impact this acquisition will have on patient care.

“The actual linear accelerator will mean that the kind of treatment that we will be able to afford our patients will be much more enhanced than the treatment that we had before,” she stated. “This is an upgrade and a step up from what we had in place before.”

The installation of this sophisticated equipment is part of a broader £130 million investment in the hospital’s infrastructure and technology. This substantial funding, announced earlier this year by the Ministry of Health, underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing healthcare services across the island. The first tranche of funding is expected to be released in the coming weeks, Agbowu revealed.

The hospital is undertaking comprehensive infrastructure improvements, including modifications to the treatment bunker, electrical systems, and IT infrastructure. Crucially, the QEH is investing in its staff to ensure they can maximise the potential of this new technology. Physicists, radiographers, and oncologists are already engaged in intensive training programmes to familiarise themselves with the linear accelerator’s advanced capabilities.

Meanwhile, the QEH is undertaking an ambitious initiative to transform healthcare delivery, making it more accessible and efficient for patients.

At the heart of this overhaul is an expansion of telehealth services, allowing remote monitoring of patients with chronic conditions such as congestive heart failure. This innovative approach enables medical staff to track vital signs from patients’ homes, reducing the need for frequent hospital visits and allowing for timely interventions.

QEH is also transitioning to electronic medical records, streamlining appointment management and granting patients easier access to their health information. The comprehensive upgrade extends to health information systems, enhancing both patient care and data protection. These initiatives are part of the $130 million capital expenditure programme designed to acquire new technology and upgrade existing systems at the hospital.

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