President of the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners (BAMP) Dr Lynda Williams is suggesting that the revenues collected from the 20 per cent sugar-sweetened beverage excise tax and the soon-to-be-implemented tax on products high in salt content be used specifically within the health sector.

She told Barbados TODAY she would prefer if the money collected by the government from those taxes be set aside specifically to boost the budget for healthcare, rather than be placed into the Consolidated Fund – the government account into which all revenues are paid and from which all spending is made.

“If we just put it in the general funds and hope that you can increase your health fund, that most likely will not happen,” the prominent doctor said.

“My feeling about all those things is that it works as long as the money that is collected from this goes towards health expenditure. If you are just putting on a tax and put it in the general fund as just another collection of taxation, and you hope that it pans out to be more expenditure for health, that is less significant than knowing that [based] on this revenue, this is how much to increase health expenditure by.”

Barbados has one of the highest rates of overweight and obese populations within Latin America and the Caribbean, with about 30 per cent of children considered overweight and 14 per cent obese.

About one in every three Barbadian adults is considered overweight, and a similar number is obese.

In an effort to help reduce the intake of sugar-sweetened beverages among Barbadians and control non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, the government introduced a 10 per cent excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages in 2015. This was designed to generate in excess of $10 million in its first year.

Effective April 1, 2022, the Mia Mottley administration increased the excise tax on sweetened drinks to 20 per cent.

Dr Williams said she supported the tax measure but stressed that it was important for the government to know exactly how much was being collected and put that towards the development of the health sector.

The government is currently in the process of reviewing a draft policy for similar taxation on products high in salt content. This could be ready for implementation as early as the first quarter of next year.

“We have had the discussion about sugar taxes and we have implemented sugar-sweetened beverage taxes; now there is the discussion about salt…. Taxes have been shown in other countries to cause a reduction in spending when people are purchasing,” said Williams.

A joint University of the West Indies and Cambridge University study released in 2019 concluded that Barbadians were buying fewer sweet drinks and getting more bottled waters and non-sugar alternatives.

It showed that consumption dropped by some 10 per cent one year after the tax was implemented, when compared to two years before.

marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb

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On the eve of the official start of Breast Cancer Awareness month, the Pan-American International Insurance Corporation building radiated a brilliant pink glow.

On Saturday evening, their Cheapside, St Michael, location came alive with this vibrant hue after a brief ceremony. This display not only symbolised the spirit of resilience, hope, and unity in the global fight against breast cancer but also highlighted the organisation’s unwavering commitment to this cause.

General Manager Michael Lucas extended a warm welcome before introducing the featured speaker, Agency Manager and cancer survivor Gloria King-Kirton. She began by acknowledging the strength and tenacity of countless individuals who have been touched by breast cancer, whether as survivors, caregivers, or advocates.

“Each one of us, including myself, is a testament to the power of courage, determination, and the relentless pursuit of a better, healthier future,”  King-Kirton said.

In her address, she underscored the significance of illuminating the building, emphasising, “It serves as a reminder that by coming together as a community, we can empower, educate, and inspire change.”

She encouraged attendees to support local cancer awareness groups and serve as advocates and sources of inspiration for others to do the same.

King-Kirton, who had passionately supported the cause before her own diagnosis, shared her personal journey of battling and triumphing over cancer, offering powerful inspiration to those gathered. She recounted, “Two years ago, I was not only diagnosed with breast cancer but had a double mastectomy, which I was not prepared for either mentally or emotionally.”

Through her emotional testimony, she emphasised the importance of a dedicated support network during challenging times. She stated, “Today, I stand as a testimony of what community means. It is the community that provided the support, praise, and encouragement during those difficult times.”

Special gratitude was expressed to the company for their steadfast support.

She said, “It was Pan American International Insurance Corporation who provided all my financial needs through our very own unique benefits, including cancer care designed specifically for this cause. Tonight, I am immensely proud of the Pan American Life Insurance team for their dedication to this cause.”

She assured the audience, “Our commitment to corporate social responsibility is not just a part of our identity; it’s at the core of who we are. We believe that businesses have the power to effect positive change, and together, we can create a world where breast cancer is no longer a threat to our loved ones.”

In conclusion, just before the ceremonial lighting, King-Kirton advised, “Together, let us make this Breast Cancer Awareness Month a month of action, compassion, and progress. Together, we can bring about a brighter, healthier future for all.” (STT)

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By Emmanuel Joseph

Health authorities say food manufacturing and packaging plant, Hill Milling Company Limited is expected to get the green light to reopen shortly.

The news from Acting Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Arthur Phillips came on Friday afternoon, just over three months after environmental health officials closed the Haggatt Hall, St Michael company and dumped more than $500 000 in food items because of a rat infestation.

Although he declined to estimate a timeframe for the resumption of operations, Dr Phillips said he was comfortable Hill Milling was on track to get back to business soon.

He told Barbados TODAY that the dumping, which was done in stages, is now complete and the plant has done most of what it was required to do.

An inspection by health officers will be done to verify that all the recommended actions were completed.

“There is training, which must have been conducted yesterday. That is essentially it at this point. We would have had meetings with them and it helped to clarify that we were on the same page and we have the same goals,” health official stated.

“We are comfortable that they are improving and that they are on track to be back in business soon. I don’t have a timeframe. Our end goal is to ensure they are operating in a way that is safe to them and to the public and to public health standards. So, we believe that there is not much left to be done, and they are committed to doing all that is required.”

Dr Phillips said there would have to be a final sanitising of the plant, which will be done by Hill Milling staff under the supervision of environmental health officers, “once we have signed off on everything else”.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company Richard Ashby had complained that while waiting for the health authorities to give him the all-clear to reopen, staff had been sent on leave; his local and overseas customers were without products, which include rice, sugar, corn curls, oats, peas, beans and snacks; and the major revenue-earning portion of his business, exports, was in jeopardy.

“I sell to 4 000 shopkeepers…supermarkets, gas stations, minimarts…you know, people out in the country who sell from their windows, their back doors. But that’s not my big stuff, my big stuff is exports. So you are not only affecting small shops in Barbados but you are affecting the big shops in Guyana, Jamaica, St Lucia, Miami, New York and St Kitts,” the business owner had previously told Barbados TODAY, noting that the affected aspects of the plant included milling, packaging and producing.  emmanueljoseph@barbados.bb

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The Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory could soon become a World Health Organisation (WHO) collaborating centre for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) detection and surveillance.

This was revealed by PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries (ECC) Dr Amalia Del Riego during the opening ceremony of a training workshop for laboratory technologists who work in public health laboratories in Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Haiti, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname.

The workshop is taking place at the Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory from September 19 to 22.

Entitled Training on Molecular Detection and Diagnosis of Carbapenemase Genes in Gram-Negative Bacteria, the training forms phase two of the Cooperation among Countries for Health Development (CCHD) project on AMR detection and surveillance.

WHO collaborating centres assist WHO support countries to build capacity to develop and implement AMR surveillance.

Dr Del Riego said of the training: “This and many other multi-country trainings that have happened just this year in the Best-dos Santos Laboratory demonstrate the interest this laboratory and the Government of Barbados have in fostering south-to-south collaboration. We hope this soon translates into Best-dos Santos becoming a WHO collaborating centre on AMR.

“We appreciate the support provided by the Government of Argentina in the past, and currently for antimicrobial resistance detection and surveillance across the Caribbean. We wish to acknowledge the support of Malbran Institute (Buenos Aires, Argentina), a WHO collaborating centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance,” she added.

Molecular training provides countries with the capacity to diagnose AMR, one of the most important emerging threats. The training involves the detection of disease-causing organisms which are virtually resistant to all known antibiotics.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Kenneth George reiterated that AMR training is a priority for Barbados, noting that AMR diseases are becoming more prevalent.

He therefore thanked the Government of Argentina for continuing support for training. 

“Your support, both technically and financially, through the Malbran Institute is designed to support and promote antimicrobial stewardship across the Caribbean,” Dr George said.

The CMO recalled that in 2019, the World Health Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution calling for continued high-level commitments to implement multisectoral national action plans. 

“Barbados is in the process of developing a framework to achieve this goal,” he said.

Dr George also expressed his appreciation to PAHO for providing its technical expertise to the Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory. 

PAHO was credited with providing influenza surveillance and laboratory testing support, “with a view to establishing the Best-dos Santos Laboratory as a recognised influenza testing site in the subregion”. 

Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Argentine Republic in Barbados, Vanesa Romani, recounted that in 2018 Argentina, PAHO and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) signed a commitment establishing the Cooperation among Countries for Health Development (CCHD) project. This made it possible for two technicians from the Best-dos Santos Laboratory to attend training in Argentina.

Romini said the training received has improved the ability to deal with emergencies. (PR)

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By Sheria Brathwaite

The number of patients backed up in the Accident and Emergency Department (AED) of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) on Tuesday is now significantly reduced, but Barbadians are still being urged not to go there unless their conditions are life-threatening.

Communications specialist Shane Sealy said on Wednesday that medical personnel had been able to reduce the number of people waiting for treatment by more than half.

However he said, people with minor issues should continue to seek care at polyclinics and private health care providers, as advised on Tuesday.

“I can tell you that today, the situation has significantly improved. Yesterday, we were still waiting to see about 50 patients. I can tell you that number has been cut in half. So from 50 it’s gone to around 22. So we have made significant strides but we want to continue to appeal to the public if your situation is not an emergency, if it’s not life-threatening, you can seek alternate medical accommodation or treatment,” Sealy said.

“We’ve been seeing a number of patients coming there with elevated blood pressure levels, elevated sugar levels as well. And I just want to say that you can go to your medical doctor to have your situation assessed before deciding to come to the emergency department because in those cases, you will have to wait a bit longer to be assessed.

“We have been able to cut down the waiting times as well. But again, we don’t want to be inundated like what we saw yesterday and over the past 48 to 72 hours. But we have been able to address that significantly.”

Sealy added that the wait was long since priority was given to people in critical condition.

“Through the triage system, there is a priority list. Categories one and two are those gunshot victims, those people with heart attacks and resuscitation; they will be seen immediately. So then in those cases, it would push back those other patients who would have to wait a bit longer for care,” he said.
sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb

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Staff shortages, ageing equipment, an increase in people requiring eye care and a backlog of patients in need of operations are some of the major issues impacting the Ophthalmology Department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).

Head of the department Mr David Callender said that section of the hospital had the busiest outpatient clinic, with more than 20 000 patients annually “but that number has been increasing yearly”.

He said the department was in need of more hands to operate effectively.

“We don’t have enough staff; we still have a shortage of staff. We are working on getting some more junior doctors on staff. We have, on any given day, one or two consultants in the clinic and five junior doctors,” he said on Wednesday at the Lions Eye Care Centre as his department received a donation of four slit lamps from the Barbados Canada Foundation.

“So that’s also a limiting factor. We are hoping to get another two junior doctors on staff.”

Consultant ophthalmologist at the QEH Dr Dawn Grosvenor said the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill campus’ recent capability to train doctors locally would assist in this regard in the future.

“A big part of being able to maintain our staffing is that we can now train our doctors in the department locally. We didn’t [always] have the opportunity and we had to go overseas to train, and inevitably you would lose some people through brain drain. So it means that we can train staff here, retain them more and then those persons then feed back in and continue to give back locally and continue to train other people.

“So we’ve been doing that through the university’s postgraduate training programme . . . and that started in 2016. And since about 2020/2021, we’ve been producing graduates from that programme who now contribute as consultants at the hospital and they then will train more junior doctors. So, that is really helping us to retain more staff. And now we’re starting to attract very high-level applicants,” she said.

Regarding the eye surgery backlog, Callender said the department was working to reduce patients’ wait time to three months.

“We still have a backlog again. We had an issue with our operating theatre – the cooling system and the equipment challenges because of humidity in the operating theatre. So we couldn’t do as many surgeries as we would like during that period a few months ago,” he said.

The surgeon said the cooling system has been fixed and surgeries have increased but the department was still limited given the current staff numbers, which have also been affected by vacation leave for consultants and nurses.

“We try to do what we can in between, but when we have everybody on staff again, I guarantee we’ll get our numbers back up to at least a minimum of 80 cataract [surgeries] a month. Currently, the number is at 60 per month,” he explained.

“In terms of the [overall] backlog, we have hundreds of patients who are getting cataract surgery. We will never clear the backlog. There’s a constant addition to the waiting list . . . . We are trying to make patients wait for a shorter time so that we can have a short wait time for surgery, but there will always be a waiting list so our aim is to do as many cataracts as we can so that as patients are added, we take them off within about three months. So we are aiming for three months’ wait time for surgery. That’s a long-term goal, but it would take a while to get there.”

The ageing equipment in the department has also impacted the medical staff’s ability to assess patients in a timely manner. However, Callender said the donation of the slit lamps – machines that use a bright light to examine the eyes – would improve that situation.

The department head expressed concern about the increasing number of people, especially those with non-communicable diseases, presenting for treatment.

“I think that we are seeing more patients coming through the hospital for financial reasons rather than going to a private doctor. So that number has increased because of that. We are seeing more patients with diabetes who have eye problems – a lot of them present with diabetic eye disease – and you have a lot of patients with glaucoma. So even though we focus on cataracts a lot, we still have to share theatre time with other specialists who need to deal with those problems.

“More patients are referred from doctors . . . . Especially now we have more equipment, they are going to send more patients here. We try to keep pace with the workload and manage that but we still try to deliver other services. So it is a work in progress and we need all hands on deck to help us achieve our goals,” Callender said.

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb

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By Sheria Brathwaite

The Barbados Diabetes Foundation has launched a new programme aimed at detecting vascular issues that could further deteriorate the health of people living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

During a launch ceremony on Tuesday at the Maria Holder Diabetes Centre in Warrens, St Michael, consultant physician and clinical director at the foundation Dr Diane Brathwaite told the media that the foundation acquired an Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) machine to screen for vascular diseases more than a year ago and after intensive training, it was ready to roll out a national screening programme.

Having an NCD such as diabetes can increase the risk of developing atherosclerosis, which occurs when arteries harden or narrow from a build-up of plaque. People who have diabetes are also more at risk of getting a vascular disease because their blood sugar levels can be poorly controlled.

Dr Brathwaite said it was recommended for people over the age of 50 with diabetes or hypertension to have a vascular screening as part of their regular health checks. She added that younger people who have had an NCD for more than ten years should also get screened, as well as other people, especially young men, who smoke often and those who have a family history of NCDs.

“Another important point is that in our population in Barbados and the Caribbean, for some reason we are seeing severe peripheral artery disease in people at younger ages and when you have diabetes, that peripheral artery disease (PAD) can be very extensive. It means that it doesn’t block off one segment but it blocks off the whole length of the artery.  

“Rates of arterial insufficiency are relatively high in the ulcer patients that we see here. We just did an audit and PAD was present in about 60 per cent of our patients with diabetic ulcers so we advised all of our patients who come for ulcers, to do screening,” Dr Brathwaite said.

She said screening would take about 20 to 30 minutes and it was not painful. If an individual is symptomatic, a management treatment would be prescribed; and if a person was in critical condition, they would be referred to the vascular unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) for further evaluation.

A vascular check should be done yearly and the centre screens for a fee of $100.

Senior medical officer responsible for NCDs with the Ministry of Health Dr Arthur Phillips said the partnership between the QEH and the diabetes foundation since 2014 has borne fruitful results over the years. 

He said the hospital financed the care of about 225 people annually and they received six to nine months of care. 

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb

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The Barbados National NCD Commission unreservedly supports the urgent call for the introduction of the Octagonal “high-in” front-of-package warning labels to be placed on pre-packaged food and beverage products. The octagonal warning label (OWL) is the best label for Barbados and the Caribbean.

Global and regional scientific evidence, conducted by researchers free from conflicts of interest, supports the OWL as the best option to empower consumers to correctly, quickly and easily identify foods high in sugars, sodium and fats. The OWL has consistently outperformed other front-of-package nutrition labels such as the magnifying glass, the traffic lights and the facts upfront. Research just released shows that the OWL has the potential to avert 16 per cent of the deaths caused by diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). 

The support of the Barbados National NCD Commission comes against a backdrop of an epidemic of obesity and NCDs across our region and in Barbados.

80% of deaths in Barbados are caused by NCDs and 76% of premature deaths are caused by this group of diseases.

31% of our children are overweight or obese.

66% of adults are overweight and 33% are obese.

1 in 5 adult Barbadians has diabetes.

We can no longer afford to ignore these dangerous trends affecting the health and well-being of the citizens of this country. We must become more conscious of ensuring the health and wellness of every one of us is taken seriously.

An unhealthy diet dominated by ultra-processed products high in sugars, sodium and fats is the single greatest risk factor for overweight, obesity and NCDs. Overconsumption of these foods drastically increases the risk of developing hypertension, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer. 

Consumers make purchasing decisions in a matter of seconds, and it takes far too much time to understand the nutrition facts panel on the back of packaged products. Especially now, we need octagonal warning labels on the front of our food packages to easily identify food that has excess levels of key nutrients – especially for people who are living with NCDs such as diabetes, hypertension and cancer.

As the labels are now, it is very unlikely that most shoppers read food labels as they are often confusing and misleading. Having the octagonal “high-in” front-of-package labelling prominently displayed and easily readable will allow the consumer to make informed choices. This type of labelling is hard to ignore.

The health implications and the costs to fight NCDs and other diseases far outweigh the costs to manufacturers in implementing changes to their labels. We have over the years heard the cries from Ministries of Health across the region of the burgeoning costs of healthcare and the billions spent annually dealing with increasing cases of NCDs among our vulnerable population. The introduction of policies such as OWL can save the Government in excess of a billion Barbados dollars as predicted by the aforementioned study.

The octagonal warning label, recommended by PAHO/WHO and CARPHA, is a foundational and enabling policy which forms part of a comprehensive package of evidence-based policy actions aimed at creating healthy food environments in which healthy food is accessible, affordable, attractive, and widely available to all citizens regardless of socio-economic status. The OWL complements the recently introduced Barbados National School Nutrition Policy by providing the information needed to allow school administrators to readily identify foods which should be permitted in school settings.

Right now, CARICOM countries including Barbados, are voting on whether or not to approve a regional standard for the labelling of prepackaged foods which contains the octagonal warning label. Our Commission commends the Barbados Government as one of the governments in our region to vote yes for the Front-of-Package Warning Labels Octagonal System in 2021. As CARICOM continues to review this process, we want our collective voices to be heard and to resonate across the Caribbean in support of front-of-package warning labels.

Silence is no longer an option. Inaction cannot be the solution.

There is a clear and present danger to the health and well-being of our citizens from the onslaught of unhealthy foods and beverages.

Suleiman Bulbulia STE JP 

Chairman 

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The Barbados Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition (B-COP Coalition) continues its drive to prioritising children’s health. This time, it has donated 120 healthy hampers, filled with nutritious snacks for a week.

The recent implementation of the national school nutrition policy by the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training in April has sparked national attention and debate regarding access to affordable healthy food. B-COP Coalition, a leading advocate for this policy, has partnered with key sponsors to ensure these hampers are available, recognising that the back-to-school period can be both busy and costly for parents and guardians.

Dr Kia Lewis, the outgoing Chairperson of the B-COP Coalition, said: “In light of the new National School Nutrition Policy, the Coalition is very happy to roll out this Healthy Hamper: Back to School Edition, which is both healthy and cost-effective. We are targeting children in our childrens’ homes, at-risk youth, and our children in the Yute Gym of the Heart & Stroke Foundation.”

Dr Lewis further explained the initiative’s purpose, saying: “With this drive we wanted to show parents that it is possible to eat healthy on a budget. We know our schools have at least three water days, so the hampers have at least three bottles of water, an even cheaper way would be to buy a water bottle, you will also see several fruits in the hampers, given schools will be having two fruit days. Also, we have packed snacks as well, these are very reasonably priced and they would be compliant to the Alternative Snack and Beverage list, which shows the list of products on the market, which can be bought and given to our children for school.

“We are excited to launch this initiative and hope it assists Barbadian parents in making healthy choices for their children during school hours.”

This marks the B-COP Coalition’s second hamper drive, with the first taking place in 2020 during the COVID-19 Pandemic, targeting Barbadians with Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) who were more susceptible to the virus.

Several partners and sponsors made this initiative possible, including Signia Globe, Supreme Distributors, Guardian General, and the Church of the Latter Day Saints in Rendevous, where the hamper packing took place.

Marketing Officer of Signia Globe Richelle Lucas, commented: “We got a request and it was absolutely a no brainer for us to join with the Coalition. We know people think it is expensive to eat healthily, so we want to thank the Coalition for using these excellent examples of fruit and water. We are not saying that there are no snacks, yes there is a snack in the hampers but moderation is the key. Additionally, being able to work with the Heart and Stroke Foundation and get our children active and getting them active from young, so it sticks with them is important.” We are very happy to partner along with the Coalition and the other sponsors who have jumped on board for this worthy cause.

Meanwhile, Rhiyad Juman of Supreme Distributors said his firm was happy to give back to the community “by providing our 100 per cent natural Juices, our Fan juices and our Crystal Waters in order to provide for those children who may not know about the healthy options in Barbados. We are happy to help those who need the help” .

Expressing gratitude to the sponsors and partners for the initiative, Dr Lewis said: “We encourage corporate Barbados and other service groups to join us in supporting less fortunate children and fellow Barbadians as we collectively work towards a healthier way of life,’ she said. (PR)

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By Anesta Henry

Style met substance on Friday, as young males and the young at heart descended on the corner of Villa Road and Warner’s Road, Brittons Hill, for a fresh haircut and a healthy perspective on life. 

Amid the celebration of style and camaraderie, there was a poignant reminder of the ongoing prevalence of HIV/AIDS in society.

Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Kirk Humphrey, took centre stage at the annual “Man Aware (Free Haircuts)” event. With his own close-cropped coiffure setting the tone, made an impassioned appeal to citizens to embrace safe sexual practices as a way of life. As he stood at a popular community junction, his message echoed: “HIV is still very real. It is still very prevalent.”

The event attracted children to get a fresh trim for back to school. But beyond the cool haircuts, it was a chance to interact with professionals who shared age-appropriate information about HIV/AIDS. It was a unique opportunity for the younger generation to learn about responsible living in a fun and engaging way.

While the Ministry of Health and Wellness is yet to reveal the latest statistics on Barbados’ HIV/AIDS prevalence, Humphrey said the Ministry of People Empowerment was playing its role as it relates to educating Barbadians about the importance of engaging in healthy sexual practices.

He said: “The numbers we have are from 2020. But I do think that regardless of the numbers, the truth is that it is clear to me that we have to be able to engage in sexual practices that are healthy.

“I think that a lot of people think that HIV is no longer there, and a lot of people are behaving as if HIV is no longer real. In many cases, because of the medication that you now have, it has gone from being a life-depriving illness to almost a chronic illness; it is still very prevalent.”

Encouraging Barbadians to get tested to know their HIV/AIDS status,  Humphrey suggested that a person who knows they have a clean bill of health would refrain from engaging in unhealthy sexual practices.

People who have tested positive for HIV/AIDS would be aware that they must make the move to access medication, he added.

The Man Aware event went beyond haircuts by offering health check-ups, including blood pressure and sugar level assessments, in partnership with the Livewell Clinic. Humphrey highlighted the significance of these tests, emphasising that early detection can prevent life-altering non-communicable diseases.

“We are also working with the Livewell Clinic to be able to do health checks so that people can get their blood pressure checks and their sugar level checks to see if they are pre-diabetic or diabetic. This health check is one of the things that I think is going to be very important for the ministry.

“I think it is very important because a number of Barbadians are dealing with non-communicable issues, some of them becoming life-depriving in circumstances where they could be avoided if we get early testing and if we continue to do the things we are supposed to do, like eat right and make healthy choices. So, I want to thank the HIV/AIDS Commission for this work. I want to thank them for their constant advocacy, but I also feel like the time has come for Barbadians to recognise that the health choices we make in terms of what we eat also have consequences.”

The “Man Aware (Free Haircuts)” event, a blend of fashion and substance, continues to make its mark – one stylish haircut at a time – on Saturday at the Child Care Board, Cheapside, The City. 

anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb

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