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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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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The University of Guyana (UG) on Tuesday formally announced the establishment of a not-for-profit biodiversity research centre in the Essequibo River near the Mazaruni and Cuyuni rivers with an assurance by the British non-governmental organisation that the aim is not to export scientific information from the area. Co-founder of the Sophia Point Rainforest Research Institute, ...

The Carriacou workshop is part of a series of parish-level trainings to strengthen the multi-sectoral teams for gender-based violence

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Barbados Cancer Support Services (CSS) is continuing its close association with Ward C12 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Its most recent act was the handing over of a set of equipment and supplies to be used in the care of the terminally-ill.

During the recent presentation ceremony held at the Dayrells Road, Christ Church facility Henderson Pinder, Director of Nursing at the QEH, expressed his appreciation for the much-needed equipment and supplies provided by CSS.

Under a Memorandum of Understanding signed in November last year, the group committed to continuing its support for the ward.

Included in the package were an aspirator, a commode, linens, pampers and incontinence pads. 

Pinder said the linens are all custom embroidered with the logo of the Cancer Support Services and would help with the management of linen on the ward.

“Each ward has specific markings for their sheets, and we want to give the assurance that the sheets with this logo will be used on Ward C12,” Pinder explained.

Since the signing of the MOU both the staff and patients at the QEH have been the recipients of significant benefits, according to Pinder.

Lisa Dodson, a nursing officer actively involved with the ward, expressed her gratitude for the donation. She acknowledged that the aspirator and commode would address some of the equipment shortages and challenges on C12.

“The aspirator is particularly important to us as we have been facing a shortage of these machines. It is primarily used for suction in cases where individuals may be unable to swallow or have an accumulation of fluid. It will greatly benefit us,” Dodson remarked. 

“We are thankful for the ongoing donations from Cancer Support Services and hope for your continued support in future endeavours.” 

In addition to thanking CSS for the continued support, Pinder revealed that the organisations are looking to strengthen their partnership.

“The support that they continue to give to us has been tremendous. We were looking at how we could strengthen and further programmes between the two organisations and how we could make it better for each of us as we try to achieve the goal of better patient care,” Pinder stated. 

Speaking briefly during the handing over of the equipment, Antoine Williams, the public relations officer of the CSS, emphasised the significance of the donation in strengthening the valuable relationship between his organisation and the QEH.

He said the MOU highlights the viable relationship with the hospital which allows Cancer Support Services to work with the institution in the care of patients. 

Furthermore, Williams encouraged corporate entities in Barbados to join CSS and other stakeholders in extending support to the QEH, as he stressed the importance of collective efforts in assisting the hospital. (BB)

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President Irfaan Ali on Thursday appealed to Canada to set up a training institution in Guyana to train Guyanese as nurses for the local, Caribbean and Canadian markets, as the South American nation grapples with a serious shortage of that category of health workers due to migration. “We encourage Canadian accredited institutions to establish their ...

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Tuesday indicated it had halted all investigations into a 16-year old girl’s allegation that Local Government Minister Nigel Dharamlall raped her at his residence last December. According to the law enforcement agency, that decision was based on advice by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) after the girl last ...

Thirty-four persons of Amerindian descent as well as several activists of the women’s rights organisation, Red Thread, on Tuesday demanded broad-based health, legal and financial support for the 16-year old girl who alleged that she was raped by Local Government Minister Nigel Dharamlall. “Apolitical coordination of support for the child, with Indigenous groups and communities ...

The competition will take place at the Grenada Youth Centre on Wednesday, 5 July 2023, from 9 am

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