WHO releases first data on global vaccine market since COVID-19

Cristina Mitchell

9 Nov 2022

The HCC has been supporting CIBC First Caribbean in executing various workplace wellness programs. The goal for the  Know Your Number Campaign is to raise awareness and increase detection of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. During the campaign the following health tests were conducted  for the CIBC First Caribbean staff members:

• Blood sugar testing
• Blood pressure testing
• Cholesterol testing
• Body Mass Index
• Body Weight
• Breast Screening (St Kitts and Nevis only)

During the KYN campaign over three hundred (300) persons received health checks.

Also as part of this campaign CIBC First Caribbean in collaboration with the Healthy Caribbean Coalition has produced a series of Health Check videos which can be viewed on the links below.

• Dr. Dawn Alleyne – Asthma
• Dr. Hanbal Yazigi – Cancer
• Dr. Timotheus Dohr – Diabetes
• Dr. Kenneth Connell – Hypertension
• Dr. Keo Forde-St. Hill – Mental Health

Here is a snippet of the HCC/FCIB Know Your Numbers Campaign.

Antigua and Barbuda (Antigua and Barbuda Diabetes Association)

Twenty- four members, 18 females (75%) and 6 males (25%), staff members were tested in Antigua at the CIBC/FCIB Old Parham Branch.  Participants were also provided with a form for self-assessment of risk for Type 2 Diabetes, an assessment tool created by the American Diabetes Association. Counseling was provided to staff who either had questions or any abnormal results.

Based on test results, the main concerns were overweight and obesity with reported weight gain especially during the past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stress was mentioned fairly often including work related stress.

The ABDA team recommends planning future screening programmes and consideration should be made to developing a workplace wellness programme to include stress management.

Click/tap on the images to view the photo gallery.

Barbados (Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados)

Forty-four (44) employees were screened in Barbados for blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, BMI, and visceral fat.  Where adverse results were noted, individual consultations were done. Some clients were advised to seek medical attention due to their high blood pressure readings.

Overall, the Know Your Numbers initiative was proven to be successful, as the screening process exposed abnormally high blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and BMI readings, which, before the event would have gone unnoticed. Many employees who were seen became apprised of the need to be more involved in the management of their NCD and the importance of screening and risk factor modification.

Click/tap on the images to view the photo gallery.

Dominica (Dominica Diabetes Association)

In Dominica twenty-five (25) employees of the CIBC First Caribbean and their relatives received health checks.  Of the employees, DOMDA tested 5 males and 20 females within the age range of 23 and 59 years old.

From the screening, it was noted that more than 75% of the employees were living with a Non-Communicable Disease. Most common was obesity, followed by being overweight, and then Diabetes  and High Blood Pressure. Clients were rather surprised at their BMI and weight readings but with proper education, all were willing to improve their lifestyle.

Overall,  the  activity was a success. DOMDA recommends that future follow up sessions can be conducted for these employees and their relatives.

Click/tap on the images to view the photo gallery.

Jamaica (Heart Foundation of Jamaica)

During the campaign seventy- nine 79 persons blood sugar, cholesterol and body mass index (BMI) health checks. Sixty-four (64) of which were females while fifteen (15) were males.

It is recommended that all persons with abnormal findings and those known to be diagnosed with NCDs schedule an appointment with HFJ’s Nutritionist and/or visit our  hypertensive/diabetic clinic. A three to six months checkup is also recommended for those with normal readings and not known to be diagnosed with the above mentioned conditions. A yearly cardiac checkup or otherwise indicated is also recommended as these conditions can place you at a higher risk for having a heart disease.

No photos were taken.

St Lucia (St. Lucia Diabetes & Hypertension Association)

A total of twenty-one (21) employees were screened for blood pressure, blood sugar, and body analysis by the St. Lucia Diabetes and Hypertension Association (SLDHA) health

team, at the CIBC First Caribbean  Bridge Street branch. SLDHA screened nineteen (19) females and two (2) males. 48% (9) of persons had elevated BMI levels, 4.7% (1 person) had elevated blood sugars and 42.8% (9 persons had elevated blood pressure).

The education session was very interactive and well received by the staff.

Click/tap on the images to view the photo gallery.

St Vincent (SVG Diabetes & Hypertension Association)

A total of nineteen (19) staff members took the opportunity to have their health screening done. There were thirteen (13) females and six males. Eighteen (18) people were evaluated for blood glucose. Fifteen (15, 83%) had normal values, while three (3) had prediabetes values.

Their findings were discussed as well as the relevant counseling, such as healthy lifestyle choices and modifications. The topics covered included healthy eating, physical activity, weight loss, stress management, and pamphlets given. Additionally, they were advised to monitor their blood pressure at home and follow up with screenings depending on their readings.  Those with abnormal findings were advised to see their doctor for further evaluation.

Click/tap on the images to view the photo gallery.

The Bahamas (Healthy Lifestyle Team, HaLt)

The Healthy Lifestyles Team of the Cancer Society of The Bahamas hosted and facilitated the health checks of participants who presented themselves for health checks. Forty-six (46) participants received health checks and brief counseling regarding their results.  They were provided with weight, height, BMI, blood glucose, blood pressure and total cholesterol measurements and the results were documented and dated and presented to each participant for ease of reference. The exercise proved to be quite informative for the participants.

Click/tap on the images to view the photo gallery.

Grenada (Grenada Food and Nutrition Council and SDA Health Ministries)

In Grenada the team conducted body composition Know Your Numbers assessments (weight, BMI, fat percentage, weight of muscle), blood pressure and blood sugar testing. Nutrition tips and counseling was also provided. A total of thirty (33) persons were seen (23 females and 10 males).

The health team encourages staff and their families to have regular health assessments as well as improve their eating habits so that they gradually make changes to a healthier lifestyle.

Click/tap on the images to view the photo gallery.

St Kitts and Nevis ( Lake Health Wellbeing, Ministry of Health and International Cooperation Development Fund (Taiwan ICDF)

Eighteen  (18) persons were screened in St Kitts and Nevis. Of this total nine (9)  were male and nine (9)  were female. Twelve (12) persons also participated in the Breast Examination.

Staff members are encouraged to increase physical activity. The SKN Moves initiative and the healthy workplace challenge that the Ministry of Health has launched is a good place to start to help get staff moving.

It is also recommend that continuous health screenings of blood pressure, blood sugar, protein urea and BMI are done every 6 months to a year for persons who are not diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes; those who are diagnosed are encouraged to follow up with their general doctor monthly or as required. The Capacity Building Project of the Prevention and Control of Metabolic Chronic Diseases in the Ministry of Health can assist in the health screenings.

Click/tap on the images to view the photo gallery.

Trinidad and Tobago (TTNCD Alliance/ Health Net)

The CIBC Know Your Numbers campaign was executed at CIBC’s Port of Spain, #74 Long Circular Road, Maraval and Chaguanas, Sun Plaza, Munroe Road, Chaguanas locations on Thursday 20th October from 9:00am to 12:00pm (simultaneously). Twenty-five (25) persons from each branch were tested.

The service provider, HealthNet, also allocated a doctor to the branches for on-location consultations for the participants. This additional service was welcomed as it added a wholesome approach to the initiative.

Click/tap on the images to view the photo gallery.

The post CIBC First Caribbean Regional Know Your Numbers (KYN) Campaign appeared first on Healthy Caribbean Coalition.

J
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Rowe Porter, epidemiologist with the Ministry of Health, says with the country battling to reduce the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), it is just a matter of time before consumers get additional help in making healthy food choices through the introduction of front-of-package labelling (FOPL).

Non-communicable diseases — ailments that are not transferable by contact but developed through family genetics, degenerative changes, or unhealthy lifestyle habits — are the leading cause of death, with statistics indicating that an estimated seven out of 10 Jamaicans died from the four major NCDs — cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic lower respiratory disease — in 2018. FOPL is one solution being scouted by health officials and industry players as it indicates that an item may contain excessive amounts of sugars, total fats, saturated fats, trans fats, and sodium.

"There is evidence that front-of-package-labelling works because persons need to be aware of what they are eating in those packaged foods. The ministry is clear that we want to have it. The issue is really what type because there are different types of presentations with front-of-package labelling and we have to in terms of what we decide on, determine what is best for Jamaica," Rowe Porter told Jamaica Observer
Monday Exchange forum.

A recent study on FOPL in Jamaica found that octagonal warning labels are best in helping local consumers make healthier food choices. Consumers said the octagonal warning presented them with the highest chance of correctly identifying when products were excessive in sugars, sodium, or saturated fats; led to them correctly identifying the least harmful option; and resulted in them choosing the least harmful or none of the products more often.

"There is data that is very clear regarding a certain type of front-of-package-labelling and we need to work with all our stakeholders to settle on the best type. I think it's really just a matter of time before we select the best type, but we need it. It's a matter of empowerment and education," Rowe Porter told the meeting.

"When you have it on the front versus the back it puts it squarely in your line of vision whether or not this is a healthy option for you, we are going there, we are getting there hopefully sooner than later," she added.

In the meantime, family physician Dr Jacqueline Campbell is emphasising that Jamaicans need to be taught how to read food labels in order to make better choices.

"I have so many patients that almost on a daily basis I have to tell them that you see this soda that you love and you drink two or three of them for the day, it's 17 teaspoons of sugar that you are drinking. So we [at the medical practice] have all the soda bottles and we actually put the right amount of sugar in [and place it on display], so if you see soda bottle X you will know that this is actually 17 teaspoons of sugar and we show the patients and they are usually like 'what? I am drinking so much?'," Dr Campbell shared.

"They consume that [many bottles] because it's cold and you have somebody who might be drinking two or three [bottles] for the day and 17 [multiplied by] three is a whole heap of teaspoons of sugar per day. That [level of education and explanation] is going to help persons to make the correlation for themselves why their sugar levels are so high," she told editors and reporters.

According to the family physician, once individuals come to recognise the importance of portions a change in behaviour will follow.

"That is the key thing for the patients, when you [show them] what the serving size is, then they realise that bottle [of beverage can be shared for two persons and more]. That is an 'aha' moment and we need to have more 'aha' moments for the patients so that it's not just an intellectual conversation about this disease…where it doesn't really sink in," she said.

The Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) has, in the meantime, said while it supports the thrust of the ministry in this respect and supports the drive to have FOPL for the food and beverage sectors, the models of major trading partners should be included in the options available.

It has, however, taken issue with the PAHO-led campaign which is pushing for the Caribbean region to adopt the octagonal warning label system first introduced by Chile in June 2016. The JMEA, in noting that that system utilises high-in black warning labels, shaped like stop signs, for processed, pre-packaged food and drinks exceeding PAHO Nutrient Profile Model criteria limits for sugar, sodium, saturated fats, total fats and trans fats, pointed out that while that model is supposedly being considered by several countries, very few countries have introduced this type of warning label.

In pointing out that Jamaica sells many products through major trading partners such as the United States, neither that country, Canada or the United Kingdom uses the Chilean model among others.

It said evidence shows that although the Chilean model has been shown to change consumption, there has been no published evidence that it has changed the NCDs outcome.

Speaking with the Jamaica Observer in an exclusive interview, director at HCJ Geoffrey Barrow also noted that the organisation will be pushing to highlight its services, as AIDS Awareness Month, which is recognised in December, approaches.

"HCJ will definitely be making sure that its presence is known. We are going to leverage the fact that HIV awareness is coming into the forefront of people's minds in order to ensure that people are aware of the services that we provide," said Barrow last Thursday.

"We hope that people who are actually in need of the service will become aware of us because once folks know about us, they come on board and are able to achieve that optimum level of health care they require," he said.

Pointing to the telemedicine option, which he said will be launched in a couple weeks, Barrow noted that it is well needed as patients will be able to have constant interactions with their health practitioners.

"This will reduce the burden of travelling to the health care, you can have a five or 10 minutes touch base over the phone, in a system that is very protective in terms of your health information. This has been one of the challenges in virtual health-care delivery to ensure that health-care data is actually protected and people feel and understand that people are not able to listen to their conversations and the data we collect is absolutely protected," he said.

Meanwhile, for the decentralised drug delivery, he noted that the HCJ partnered with two clinicians and eight patients in September. The service will be officially rolled out this fiscal period.

"Instead of the client going to the doctor, getting prescriptions, taking prescriptions, and going to the pharmacy, we have created this virtual where the information could be transferred without the client so that when the patient goes to the doctor's office, they can collect their medication at the same time," he said.

"We will be doing all the background work, collecting the medication, dropping it off at the doctor's office so that when the patient goes get their doctor visit, they can pick up their medication at the same time, thereby removing those travel and transportation costs," he said.

According to Barrow, lack of trust is a common issue identified among HIV patients, which HCJ is trying to address.

"For folks who might not have had great experiences prior to HCJ, we are trying to get them to trust the health system again. We are trying to change the services specifically for those clients to ensure that they are cared for, integrated in their own care, and that they know there are several different mechanisms that they can engage with in the health care system. We want to make sure they change their perspectives based on previous experiences," he said.

The HCJ is funded by the United States President Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief through the United States Agency for International Development.

Seeking to do its part through financial contribution and awareness, EdgeChem Paints turned out with scores of its employees to the ICWI/Jamaica Reach to Recovery Pink Run last weekend. Jamaica has one of the highest breast cancer incidence rates...

Reprint Note by TMR Editor: We bring this and other articles making some introductory observations to our readers. We bring these for the information and education our readers can get so they are informed and know how to conduct and protect themselves and their families as well as their communities. What we would like to […]

New Delhi: Through a recent notice, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has announced the re-opening of the registration process thus further extending the schedule for mop-up round of NEET PG counselling.

Earlier, the MCC had extended the registration to 05.11.2022.

Now, the MCC has further reponed the mop up round registration, The concerned candidates can check out the extended schedule as follows.

"In light of the Court proceedings in W.P. No. 174 of 2022 along with I.A. before the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India and in continuation of the notice no. U12021/01/2022-MEC dated 04/11/2022 it is decided to extend the schedule for Mop-up Round of PG Counselling," stated the MCC notice.

Also it is been decided by the competent authority that the internal seats of Central Universities i.e. AMU, BHU & DU and I.P. Universities (VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital & ABVIMS & RML Hospital) shall be filled by All India Candidates after the exhaustion of Internal Candidates at the respective institutes in the stray vacancy Round, the notice added.

Hence the candidates who wish to apply at the above mentioned universities may exercise the option of choice filling by using the registration unlocking facility as per the schedule below:

S./ No

EVENTS

DATES

1

Fresh Registration/Payment

extended 

02:00 P.M of 8th November, 2022 upto 11:00 A.M of 10th Nov., 2022

Payment Facility will be available upto 03:00 P.M of 10th November, 2022

2

RESET Registration Option

Upto 09:00 A.M of 10th Nov., 2022

3

Choice Filling & Choice Locking

Upto 11:55 P.M of 10th November, 2022 as per Server Time

Choice Locking from 03:00 PM of 10th November, 2022 to 11:55 PM on 10thNovember, 2022 , as per Server Time

To view the official Notice, Click here : https://mcc.nic.in/reopeningregistrationmopupround

The MCC had earlier released the seat matrixes for the mop-up round of NEET PG and NEET MDS counselling.

According to the seat matrixes, a total of 9175 MD, MS, PG Diploma and DNB seats are up for grabs in the mop-up counselling; whereas for MDS specialities, 353 seats are available for candidates.

Also Read:9175 NEET PG, 353 MDS seats up for grabs in MCC mop up round counselling

Previous schedule:

S. NoSchedule for AdmissionCentral CounsellingState CounsellingAll India QuotaDeemed + Central Institute11st Round of Counselling15th September to 27th September 202215th September to 27th September 202225th September to 4th October 20222Last date of Joining4th October 2022

4th October 2022

48h October 2022

32nd Round of Counselling10th October to - 18th October, 2022

10th October to - 18th October, 2022

15th October to - 26th October, 2022

4Last date of Joining26th October 2022

26th October 2022

2nd November 20225Mop up Round31st October to 8th November 2022

31st October to 8th November 2022

9th November to 14th November 2022

6Last date of Joining14th November 2022

14th November 2022

17th November 2022

7Stray Vacancy

15th November 2022 to 17th November 2022

15th November 2022 to 17th November 2022

21st November 2022 to 23rd November 2022

Forwarding the list of students in order of merit equaling to Ten times the number of vacant seat to the Medical colleges by the Counselling Authority to the Deemed University for Stray Vacancy Round17th November 20228Last date of Joining25th November 2022

25th November 2022

25th November 2022

9Commencement of Academic Session for PG Courses20th October 2022

The
passing of a newly diagnosed HIV patient was too impactful to top any other touching experience for a Health Connect Jamaica (HCJ) case manager who was rooting for the client to do well during treatment.

The case manager, whose name is being withheld for confidentiality purposes, shared her heartbreaking and heart-warming stories during an exclusive interview with the Jamaica Observer last Thursday, ahead of AIDS Awareness Month which is recognised in December.

The case manager, who has been in the field for eight years, said the client was an elderly woman in her mid-60s and was newly diagnosed last year but was poorly managing the diagnosis.

She also said the client had a lot of socio-economic problems.

"She received plenty interventions from the contact investigator and I, who would have tried our best to assist her where we can — checking in with her to ensure that she has food, support, taking the medication, but I guess she wasn't motivated enough to push through and she ended up passing, and that was quite rough for me because I would have wanted her to get through it," said the case manager who has been working with HCJ for a year.

"We had moments when she was doing well — really doing well — but something would happen at home and throw her back from point A," she said as she smiled, seemingly reminiscing on the good relationship she shared with the woman.

According to the case manager, the woman's failure to take the prescribed medication caused her to develop health conditions which led to her death.

"That was a bit challenging, and speaking to her children and hearing how distraught they were and the sadness that came with her death has been a rough one for me," she said.

She mentioned that during treatment the client became more welcoming and friendly, even though she was a bit bad-tempered in the early stages. She also said the experience has taught her that, even though she might not be able to help everyone to go through treatment well, her efforts are enough.

"When we had our initial conversation she was very cantankerous, she wasn't in any talking. Her children would always say, 'Don't pay her any mind, this is how she is,' but when you go and visit her, she was a pleasure to speak to, very welcoming, kind, and though she didn't have much, she was always offering. I realised that roughness that we first encountered was centred on the fact that I was a new person. But she was a good person, very nice to talk to," she said.

"The feeling is usually the same, it doesn't get easier. At the end of it I usually question myself about whether I did enough or not. But speaking with my colleagues and assessing all I would have done, I came to the conclusion that as a case manager you're going to help a lot of people, but you won't help everybody, and if I'm helping the majority then that is comforting for me," she added.

For her heart-warming story, the case manager pointed to another newly diagnosed client who thought she had a mere skin issue.

"I had a client who came to us last year, newly diagnosed and completely distraught because, imagine going to your doctor for a skin issue and being referred to a dermatologist for the same skin issue and only to find out it was more than a skin issue. She was quite distraught about it because, as you can imagine, your skin is changing. People are seeing that and you're super conscious about that," she said.

She said after encouraging her to take her medication, the client who adhered, became virally suppressed after a year.

"Her skin is getting better and she is in a way better place. Just talking to her now and how positive she is and not so self-conscious puts a smile on my face," she said.

The HCJ is funded by the United States President Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief through the United States Agency for International Development. Established in October 2019, HCJ facilitates the linkage of private sector services and data to the public database, helping Jamaica account for people living with HIV who were never linked to care within the public system.