President of the Barbados Alzheimer’s Association Pamelia Brereton has suggested that Barbadians need to be more proactive and vigilant when placing their elderly family members in senior citizens’ homes.

Noting that she has received complaints from some people about bad treatment of their elderly relatives at nursing homes, Brereton said relatives had a responsibility to check out these facilities before admission and to check on their family members often after they got in.

“Check out the care home properly; don’t just decide to drop mom or dad off at any old care home. You have the right to check to make sure that the facility or institution is going to be able to provide the care that you are paying for,” she said at the Alzheimer’s Month seminar at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre (LESC) on Wednesday.

“A lot of people would call me sometimes and say, ‘I put them there, but yet they are not doing this, or they are not doing that’. But sometimes, I want to remind you, that is your fault because if you are putting someone in a care home and sometimes you are only going to visit that person once or twice a week or sometimes never, you expect them to get the care that you want them to get? So it’s important to make sure that when you put mom or dad in a home, you visit.”

Brereton said it was important for families caring for persons diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia to know what resources are available to them. Additionally, she said, caregivers should let their neighbours and people in their communities know if someone living in their household has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

“Don’t be afraid, don’t be shy, don’t hide it. I always say that people tend to hide their diseases, but in the end, you can’t hide death. So cut that out and start facing reality. Friends need to know; health facilities need to know; our polyclinics need to know; the hospitals need to know; the nursing homes need to know; the National Assistance Board, the Welfare Department, all these people need to know. 

“Family members also need to realise that . . . they will need a break; they will need some home help – a good daycare – for persons they are caring for; they would need trained personnel. Some people with Alzheimer’s go through seven stages, and we need to be aware of how the disease unfolds, which will help persons who are caregivers,” Brereton said.

She shared that dementia is now an epidemic worldwide, with 55 million people affected and experts predicting that number will increase to 155 million by 2050.

“The region itself has about 328 000, and by 2050 that is going to triple. More doctors will be needed and more nurses will be needed. This is one of the most heartbreaking diseases that I have ever witnessed,” she said.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Jehu Wiltshire highlighted the reality that the older people live, the greater their chance of developing dementia.

He said this was the reason behind the Government’s commitment to providing the necessary resources to meet the needs of an ageing population. 

(AH)

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A name synonymous with children’s health in Barbados for more than three decades is now attached to the post of chairperson of the Barbados Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition (BCOP Coalition).

Professor Anne St John, a consultant paediatrician, children’s health advocate, and the lead policy champion for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados (HSFB) and the BCOP Coalition, will be at the helm of the organisation for the 2023-2024 period.

She was elected at a BCOP Coalition Workshop last Wednesday.

“I am humbled to have been elected to the position of Chair of the BCOP Coalition, being quite aware that it carries a tremendous sense of purpose, with high expectations towards the accomplishment of the goals set by the organisation in relation to healthy nutrition and lifestyles, especially related to children of the nation,” Professor St John said after her election.

The BCOP Coalition has a membership of 30 civil society organisations, in addition to individual members and youth advocates, all with the singular goal of advocating for the suite of policies identified by the World Health Organisation to decrease the alarming levels of childhood obesity in countries like Barbados. About 31 per cent of children in Barbados are obese or overweight.

BCOP Coalition pointed out that Professor St John has been a very hands-on advocate and champion for childhood obesity prevention from the beginning of the Childhood Obesity Prevention Project in 2018, sensitising policymakers, parents, children, principals, teachers and staff at various schools around the island. 

It added that especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, her voice and reasoning became linked to the School Nutrition Policy which has generated much interest across Barbados. 

Now, looking forward to the implementation of other evidence-based policies like the use of octagonal front-of-package warning labels, which can simultaneously assist in reducing the levels of childhood obesity in Barbados, she said: “The right to know what are the ingredients in what we consume goes hand in hand with the adaptation, intervention and use of octagonal front-of-package warning labels (O-FOPWL) on consumables, assisting consumers in making healthy choices of food and drink.”

Programme Manager of the Childhood Obesity Prevention Project for HSFB Francine Charles said it was an honour for the BCOP Coalition to be led by one of the most ardent voices for children’s health in Barbados.

She said Professor St John “has a passion and a voice to ensure children in Barbados have optimal health and we have watched her advocate effectively to every possible audience, so we are heartened to work with her as chair of the Coalition”. (PR)

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Black Knight Bikers and other bikers in Barbados joined forces on the weekend to assist Joann Hall, a social worker at the Ministry of Education, as she continues her battle with rheumatoid arthritis which has already caused her to have knee replacement and be under medication for pain relief.

The group of bikers joined a charity walk that began at Esso in Paynes Bay, St James and ended at Folkestone Marine Park in the same parish, where they socialised with other people who walked in honour of Hall.

She has dedicated 20-plus years of her life to ensuring that children under her charge receive the best level of education possible.

President of the Black Knight Bikers Fabian Reeves said club members were pleased to lend support to the initiative, noting that when Hall was fully on her feet, she worked with various agencies to get financial support and placement for children at schools that cater to their learning styles, and advocated for abused and underprivileged students.

“When we heard of this walk, we immediately said this is something we need to affiliate ourselves with since we value the work of people in the education system who advocate for children who are abused, especially if they are bullied,” Reeves said.

Vice president of the bikers group, Kevin Wickham echoed those sentiments and said he wanted to see more charities give back to causes like this.

In accepting the monetary donation from the bikers, Hall said because the condition has now affected her hip, she needs to raise as much money as she can to assist with surgery. Her initial target is $50 000. (PR)

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The Physiotherapy Department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) has received a near $4 000 boost to its capability to treat patients.

The aid package, which was donated by the Rotaract Club of South Barbados on Wednesday, is comprised of 15 folding walkers with wheels, seven Transcutaneous Electrical Nervous Stimulations (TENS) units to assist with pain management, and two exercise band kits.

The club’s immediate past president Graham Belle said the contribution was made possible through funds raised during the organisation’s annual Karting for Charity event.

He said the QEH was chosen as the chief beneficiary following a needs assessment conducted with the Physiotherapy Department.

Senior physiotherapist Dr Lynn Morris, who accepted the assistance package, said the equipment was critical to meet the increasing demand of patients seeking rehabilitation.

President of the Barbados Physiotherapy Association Stacey Boyce, meanwhile, expressed concern about an emerging trend of arthritis becoming more prevalent among younger people.

However, she gave the assurance that with the donation, the hospital was in a better position to help those requiring treatment for arthritis.

Arthritis is inflammation of the joint, and the two most common forms are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

The donation was made during Physiotherapy Week which concludes on Saturday.

To mark the week starting on September 3, the Barbados Physiotherapy Association hosted several activities, including an open day on the ground floor corridor of the QEH. It is preparing for more activities on World Physiotherapy Day on Friday. (EJ/PR)

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Speech therapy plays an important role towards the holistic development of children. It improves overall communication, enhances social skills and enables them to cope better with society and function in day-to-day life. Early intervention and treatment can significantly enhance the lives of children and allow them to better integrate into their environment. To help children get the support they need, Scotiabank has contributed to a Speech Therapy Project with Variety – The Children’s Charity at the Albert Cecil Graham Development Centre (ACGDC).

Under this project, speech-language therapy intervention will be provided at the ACGDC to enrich the lives of children, increase the effectiveness of the service and assist in reducing the extended waiting list.

Marita Greenidge, Executive Director, Variety commented: “We are considerably grateful for this donation from Scotiabank. This support will aid in reducing the extensive waiting list for speech-language therapy at the ACGDC. Treating speech and language defects can promote increased self-confidence, better academic outcomes and wider social acceptance for children receiving therapy. We are thankful that Scotiabank is so passionate about driving inclusivity and removing barriers to advancement. Variety believes every child deserves a limitless future and we are overjoyed to work with caring partners like Scotia who want to help build a brighter future for this island’s most vulnerable.” 

Suzette Armoogam-Shah, Managing Director, Scotiabank Barbados signalled the bank’s ongoing support for developing young people. 

“How we support children today will enable their success in the future. Furthermore, it is important for all children to be afforded the same opportunities so that they can go on to lead successful lives. We are truly pleased to work with Variety on this project. It helps ensure that children in need of speech therapy achieve their full potential, feel a sense of belonging in our communities, and may even go a step further in acting as a source of inspiration to others.” (PR)

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Barbados has again proven itself to have the best triathletes in the region.

For the second year running, Barbados emerged as champions at the CARIFTA Triathlon, Aquathlon and Mixed Relay Championships, which climaxed over the weekend in the Bahamas.

The team captured 15 medals, including an impressive eight gold medals, to amass 180 points and lift the title. The Bahamas was a distant second on 130 points.

Barbados is scheduled to host the 2024 Championships and will be going after a three-peat on home soil. (RB/PR)

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(CMC) – Suriname has been named among eight countries that are adopting measures in line with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) to protect the health of their populations from novel tobacco products.

The WHO said Friday that with the recent ban on the use and marketing of electronic cigarettes in Venezuela, currently, 21 countries in the Americas regulate electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), such as e-cigarettes and vapes.

“The resolution that regulates new and emerging nicotine and tobacco products in Venezuela is an important step forward for the country and for the region,” said Dr Anselm Hennis, Director of Non-Communicable Diseases Mental Health at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO).

“We hope that this measure motivates other countries to take action on these products, which are addictive, harmful and aggressively advertised towards the youngest,” he added.

The eight new countries to join the initiative are Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela and PAHO said these countries prohibit their sale altogether, and the other 13 countries have partially or totally adopted one or more regulatory measures.

It said 14 countries in the Americas, including the Caribbean, lack any regulation of these products.

Last June, a previous resolution of the Venezuelan Ministry of Popular Power for Health banned the sale of vapes to minors.

Now, the August 1 resolution prohibits “the manufacture, storage, distribution, circulation, commercialization, importation, exportation, use, consumption, advertising, promotion and sponsorship of ENDS and electronic non-nicotine delivery systems (ENNDS)”, as well as their “consumables”, “accessories”, and “heated tobacco products”.

PAHO said e-cigarettes are the most common form of electronic nicotine delivery systems. When used, they heat a liquid to create aerosols that are inhaled by the user.

It said these “e-liquids” contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance found in tobacco, and other additives, flavorings and chemicals, some of which are toxic to the health of both the user and those exposed to them.

PAHO/WHO recommends that governments implement regulations in line with the provisions of the FCTC and its decisions, such as prohibiting the marketing of ENDS, including their importation, distribution or sale, as well as regulations on their use in public places, prohibiting their advertising and promotion, taxing them, and other regulations similar to those applied to tobacco products.

Tobacco kills one million people in the region of the Americas annually and while measures taken since the FCTC came into force in 2005 ha per cent in 2020, these achievements are threatened by novel tobacco and nicotine products.

Currently, 11.3 per cent of adolescents between 13 and 15 years of age in the region use tobacco, compared to the world average of 10.3 per cent.

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(CMC) – The Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) says regional countries need to take adequate steps to prevent the trans-boundary spread of infectious diseases, describing it as a threat to regional and global health security.

CARPHA held a two-day conference in Trinidad and Tobago last week to discuss the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health concerns, reiterating the necessity for regional and global health security to protect and improve health.

It said that Regional Health Security (RHS) encompasses the capacities required for the Caribbean to prepare for and respond to public health threats, risks, priority issues and concerns that transcend national boundaries and potentially impact on economic stability, trade, tourism, and access to goods and services in the region.

“RHS offers a coordinated approach which is especially crucial in the Caribbean as the region, like the Pacific and African small island developing states, is characterised by small, under-resourced populations and varying surveillance, laboratory and human resource capacities,” CARPHA said.

“It is also highly interconnected with porous borders, heavily reliant on tourism, and susceptible to climate change and disasters.”

The agency noted that this combination of factors significantly increases the region’s exposure and vulnerability to disease spread, enabling rapid spread of highly transmissible communicable diseases.

Furthermore, the tropical climate, and abundance of competent vectors make the region particularly vulnerable to vector-borne disease outbreaks.

“Consequently, regional health security and prevention, preparedness and response to public health emergencies need to be improved not only at the national levels, but at the regional level, as functional regional capacities are greater than the sum of the capacities of individual countries for improving RHS in the Caribbean,” CARPHA said.

“The major outcomes of this meeting include the detailing and prioritisation of member states’ current needs, increased awareness of CARPHA’s integrated surveillance and capacity building work and strengthening partnerships. These elements will assist in developing the sustainable RHS Pathway in short order.”

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GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC)— Guyana health minister Dr Frank Anthony has confirmed that two children— ages nine and 11— have died after being infected with dengue.

The children had been receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital. Dr Anthony said no other child is receiving critical care after being infected with dengue.

Media reports in Guyana said that one of the two children who died was a primary school pupil from Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, who spent five days in the ICU before passing away.

Based on official figures, an estimated 3,453 people in Guyana have been infected with the mosquito-borne disease so far this year, with 2,169 cases considered to be still active patients.

Dr Anthony said that local authorities have been fogging all areas to prevent people from being bitten by mosquitoes and that a substance used to kill mosquito larvae is also being distributed.

The symptoms of dengue include high fevers, head and body aches and nausea.

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Breast milk has always played a pivotal role in nurturing newborn babies, building natural immunity, and providing a unique blend of essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Speaking at the 7th Annual General Meeting of the Breastfeeding & Child Nutrition Foundation at the Sandy Lane Hotel on Saturday, July 15, Dr Sonia Browne, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health & Wellness, emphasised the potential of breastfeeding in mitigating the risk of chronic noncommunicable diseases in children throughout their lives.

Dr Browne highlighted that breastfed children experience a reduced risk of developing various conditions including but not limited to, asthma, severe respiratory diseases, obesity, ear infections, and gastrointestinal infections. She explained that breastfeeding also fosters a profound bond between mother and child while offering numerous benefits to the mother such as a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, breast and ovarian cancer, and postpartum weight loss. 

Expressing her admiration for the Breastfeeding & Child Nutrition Foundation’s initiatives, Dr Browne acknowledged their efforts in empowering women and promoting effective breastfeeding practices. 

“I am particularly impressed by the many initiatives of the Foundation…including programmes such as the Baby and Me Breastfeeding Support Group, the Baby and Me WhatsApp Group, breastfeeding classes and consultations, advocacy for breastfeeding-friendly workshop policies, and community outreach.”

Echoing her sentiments, Dr Alison Bernard, the Executive Director of the Breastfeeding & Child Nutrition Foundation, commented, “We came up with this year’s theme, Achieving our Vision: Building Community Capacity for the Future, very quickly, because empowering our beneficiaries to optimise their children’s nutrition is a high-priority objective for the BCNF.”

Providing families with the necessary tools, education, and skills to improve their children’s nutrition lies at the core of the organisation’s mission.

 Dr. Bernard further stressed the need for employers to implement supportive measures for new mothers in the workplace, including the provision of clean and private spaces for pumping and storing breast milk. She advocated for flexible work hours and remote work options, which can lead to benefits for employers such as decreased absenteeism, improved productivity, employee satisfaction, retention, and reduced medical insurance claims.

Recognising the significance of breastfeeding on public health and well-being, the World Health Assembly has set a target of achieving a breastfeeding rate of at least 50 per cent by 2025. However, a critical aspect lacking in Barbados’ breastfeeding efforts is up-to-date breastfeeding data. The last available data is from 2012, which hinders accurate assessment and progress tracking on a national level. The Breastfeeding & Child Nutrition Foundation urges the ministry to prioritise the collection of current and comprehensive breastfeeding data, stressing the need for understanding breastfeeding practices, duration, and the transition to solid foods.

Breastfeeding plays a vital role in the development and long-term health of children, and it is essential to support and encourage breastfeeding practices at all levels. By championing breastfeeding and empowering mothers, Barbados can enhance the well-being of its population and achieve lasting positive impacts. It is estimated that for every $1 spent on breastfeeding, there is a return on investment of $35, and upscaling breastfeeding globally could potentially save $300 billion annually. Implementing a range of policies and actions will allow Barbados to reach national and international health goals for the population.

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