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.

The post Fogging in St Michael and St Joseph this week appeared first on Barbados Today.

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)

The post Promising improvement in vaccination rates, Health Ministry says appeared first on Barbados Today.

Dear Students of 2030,

2030 isn’t just a milestone—it’s a turning point for global development; it marks our global check-in on the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 3:Good Health and Well-being. As you step into this new school year during this critical year, let’s rewind to 2024. We were a group of youth health advocates from across the Caribbean who fought passionately for healthier school food environments. Back then, students like yourselves were growing and learning in spaces that did not support your physical and mental well-being—a clear violation of your right to health. We could not just stand by and do nothing. So, we worked tirelessly to address these challenges, creating a vision for a healthier future—a future we hope has become a reality for you in this year of global accountability.

Food Environments
In our school environments of 2024, ultra-processed foods—foods high in Salt, Sugar, Fat (including trans fats) and other additives —dominated school menus. These unhealthy foods were widely available and aggressively marketed in schools. Branded giveaways, brightly coloured product posters, and fast-food companies sponsoring school events were commonplace. Even social media was not safe, as children were constantly exposed to ads featuring popular personalities promoting these harmful choices.

Why was this a problem? The constant exposure to unhealthy food ads directly influenced children’s eating habits, driving them toward unhealthy choices that increased their risk of obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). By 2024, one in three Caribbean children was living with overweight or obesity, and nearly 75% of deaths in the region were linked to NCDs. We hope that by 2030, these statistics have shifted for the better, and that your generation is now thriving in healthier environments—ones shaped by the commitments made by our region and global leaders.

Policy and Youth Advocacy
CARICOM leaders acknowledged the gravity of NCDs as early as 2007 in the Port of Spain Declaration, yet progress remained slow. A major issue fueling the high rates of obesity and NCDs was the absence of strong policies to safeguard school food environments. In many countries, implementation and enforcement lagged, leaving children exposed and vulnerable to unhealthy food options..

Caribbean youth—including advocates like us—took a stand in response. We held policymakers accountable for their commitments, demanding more action through public campaigns and dialogue. In Barbados, for example, youth advocates contributed to developing the School Nutrition Policy, which was implemented in 2023. Additionally, the Barbados Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition launched the “Cool School Nutrition Tour” in early 2024, youth advocates visited schools nationwide to educate students on the policy’s benefits. The advocates also launched an article for International Youth Day that year, highlighting the firm stance against fast-food companies that sought to undermine these efforts.

In Jamaica, youth from the Jamaica Youth Advocacy Network (JYAN) and UNICEF Jamaica were actively involved in consultations on their country’s School Nutrition Policy. When authorities failed to confirm the policy’s implementation for the 2024-2025 academic year, youth advocates launched an open letter demanding urgent action from the Ministry of Education and Youth (MOEY).

In February 2024, the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) and Healthy Caribbean Youth (HCY), JYAN, the Heart Foundation of Jamaica (HFJ), The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados (HSFB), and UNICEF Jamaica to hold the very first regional youth meeting on healthy food policies. Youth from 13 CARICOM countries united to advocate for comprehensive school food regulations, including selling and marketing ultra-processed foods. Our voices were loud, clear, and united.

Looking Ahead
By 2030, we envision a Caribbean where all CARICOM countries have implemented comprehensive school nutrition policies regulating the sale and marketing of foods high in salt, sugar and fat. We see you having access to healthier meals, clean drinking water, and plenty of opportunities for physical activity at school. Health education will be woven into your curriculum, empowering you to make informed choices about your well-being. The progress we’ve made so far gives us hope for this healthier future.

As we reflect on the past, we hope you, today’s youth, continue to demand more from your leaders. Remember that every child has the right to the highest attainable standard of health, and governments must protect that right as signatories to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Your bold advocacy is not just essential but integral to our collective success.

In 2024, countries like Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago have either taken steps to regulate school food environments or are in the process of doing so. However, partial measures are not enough. It is critical that comprehensive, evidence-based policies—shaped by your voices—are fully implemented. The consequences of not enforcing these policies will significantly negatively affect the region.

CARICOM leaders took a historic stand in 2007 with the Port of Spain Declaration, demanding urgent action on NCDs. Seventeen years have passed since that declaration—and by the time you read this, 23 years will have passed. The time for talk is over. Now, it is up to our current CARICOM leaders to rise to the challenge, build on the foundations laid by their predecessors, and prioritise our region’s health. Their leadership now will determine the future health of generations to come.

Our Hope for the Future
As you celebrate Caribbean Wellness Day on September 14, 2030, and reflect on this pivotal year of global accountability, we urge you to recognise your power in shaping the health and future of our region. Progress has been made, but setbacks have also occurred. It is up to you to carry the torch forward, advocating for change where it is still needed and ensuring that the health and well-being of Caribbean youth remain a top priority. You are not just the future. You are the present. Your actions and demands matter. You have the right to good health, and with your courage and determination, you can help create a future where every child in the Caribbean has the opportunity to thrive.

With hope for a healthier tomorrow,

Youth Health Advocates of 2024
Simeca Alexander-Williamson, Simone Bishop-Matthews, Ashley Foster Estick, Kaela Gerald, Dorial Quintyne, Offniel Lamont, Danielle Walwyn, Fiona Zhang on behalf of Healthy Caribbean Youth

The post Letter to the Students of 2030: Hope for The Future appeared first on Healthy Caribbean Coalition.

Punta Cana.- Vice President Raquel Peña inaugurated the XIII Dominican Congress of Nephrology, alongside the XXIII Dominican Spanish Course and the 2nd Cleveland Clinic Meeting, aimed at discussing advancements, new research, and best practices in nephrology, particularly in kidney disease treatment. The event, organized by the Dominican Society of Nephrology (Sodonefro), brought together local and international medical professionals for three days of workshops, symposia, and conferences.

During the opening ceremony, Vice President Peña emphasized the importance of human qualities such as empathy and attentive listening in healthcare, especially in the context of growing use of artificial intelligence. Peña also highlighted the Dominican Republic’s progress in kidney disease treatment under President Luis Abinader’s leadership, with efforts in early detection, treatment, and the establishment of public support programs for kidney patients.

Minister of Public Health Víctor Atallah addressed the event, discussing commitments to expand dialysis services, promote research, and ensure equitable access to kidney care. Sodonefro’s president, Eliana Diná-Batlle, reiterated the organization’s dedication to improving therapies and thanked the government for its support in advancing nephrology care.