Santo Domingo.- The National Health Service (SNS) and the Organizing Committee of the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026 have signed an agreement designating the Public Health Services Network as the official provider of hospital medical services during the event. The agreement was signed by SNS executive director Dr. Mario Lama and Committee president José P. Monegro, in the presence of key health sector officials.

Dr. Lama emphasized that the entire hospital network, including doctors, specialists, support staff, and equipment, will be available to ensure the safety and well-being of athletes and participants. The Luis Eduardo Aybar Health City will serve as the main referral center, supported by the Ney Arias Lora and Darío Contreras trauma hospitals. The agreement also includes mobile dental units, a polyclinic in the Olympic Village, and coordinated medical services in all provinces hosting competitions.

The agreement, notarized by Dr. Lucía Collado, will remain in effect from July 1 to August 30, 2026, with the option of renewal.

Well-known Guyanese artiste, model and businesswoman Lolita “Lola Doll” Callender was shot several times on Saturday night outside her residence in Texas Square, East Ruimveldt, police sources said. The 33-year-old woman was shot eight times to her right leg, hands, face, and neck while she was sitting in her motorcar. Ms Callender was rushed to ...

The Institute for Innovation in Biotechnology and Industry (IIBI) warned that the presence of bacteria resistant to common antibiotics in the country’s main rivers poses a serious health risk.

The institution recommended strengthening environmental monitoring, preventing self-medication, and improving wastewater treatment.

The discovery stems from research on the Ozama, Isabela, Yaque del Norte, and Yaque del Sur rivers, where microorganisms such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, and Acinetobacter were detected

These bacteria, classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as priority pathogens due to their drug resistance, are associated with intestinal, urinary, respiratory, and skin infections.

The study was conducted by a team of young Dominican scientists from IIBI, in collaboration with Intec, Isfodosu, and ISA universities, led by Dr. Edian F. Franco and Professor Luis O. Maroto. 

The research employed whole-genome sequencing and metagenomics techniques, an approach that goes beyond conventional microbiology and allows for identifying not only which bacteria are present, but also their capabilities. This approach facilitates the tracking of contamination routes, the identification of critical discharges, and the guidance of mitigation actions.

When these organisms are dispersed in the environment, the chances of them reaching food, drinking water, or people who use rivers for bathing or work increase. 

In the case of infection, treatments may become more protracted, more expensive, and less effective.

The IIBI, an institution directed by engineer Osmar Olivo, calls on citizens to care for and rescue our water sources, remembering that river water is vital to the health, agricultural production, the economy, and daily life of all Dominicans.

Findings by area

In Ozama and Isabela, both in densely populated urban areas, resistant bacteria linked to domestic and industrial discharges were detected.

In Yaque del Norte, a route was traced from the springs to agricultural and urban areas, verifying how the presence of intestinal bacteria such as E. coli, Klebsiella, and Enterobacter increases.

In Yaque del Sur, sediments revealed DNA from Vibrio cholerae (cholera) and Salmonella (gastroenteritis), which poses a risk if the water is used without treatment.

A problem with daily impact

River water is crucial for cooking, washing, irrigating crops, and sustaining the economy. If antibiotics lose effectiveness, common health problems could turn into serious and costly illnesses.

The WHO warns that the misuse of antibiotics accelerates bacterial resistance. Therefore, the IIBI insists on the urgency of implementing immediate measures that include responsible antibiotic use, adequate wastewater treatment, and strengthening environmental monitoring.

Science and youth training

Along with the research leaders, undergraduate and graduate students from Intec, Isfodosu, and ISA participated. Among them were Irene Zulay Ortiz Confesor, Lázaro M. Acosta Rivera, Argeny Lorenzo Ovando, Camila Del Rosario, Albert Duarte, Víctor V. Calderón, and Roberto Bonnelly, among others.

The project, funded by the MESCYT–FONDOCyT (National Meteorological Service of the Basin of Cyclone and the Basin of Cyclone), has generated international publications, and complete monitoring data from the Yaque River will be released in the coming months.

The Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) has hailed the 24-hour mental health hotline as a vital service for the island’s most vulnerable students, urging the government to further expand youth-focused support amid a sharp rise in calls from young people.

Responding to new statistics from Chief Medical Officer Dr Kenneth George showing that the hotline has handled more than 6 500 calls in just over a year, and that the number of people seeking mental health support has doubled since the pandemic, BUT President Rudy Lovell said the service highlights the growing demand for accessible mental health care.

“Particularly striking is the revelation that 40 per cent of these calls have come from children and teenagers,” Lovell told Barbados TODAY.

“This underscores what teachers and school leaders have long observed, that many of our young people are grappling with immense pressures, often silently. The hotline provides them with a safe, confidential space to reach out for help at any hour of the day or night.”

Lovell’s comments come against the backdrop of violent altercations at several schools over the last academic year, which included not only student-on-student violence, but also incidents of student-on-teacher aggression.

Schools cannot simply focus on academic achievement, as emotional and psychological support is needed to help nurture well-rounded citizens, he insisted.

Lovell said: “As educators, we recognise that academic success is inseparable from emotional and psychological well-being. We therefore applaud this initiative and encourage its continued strengthening, particularly in the areas of youth outreach, school partnerships, and awareness campaigns that destigmatise mental health challenges.

“The Barbados Union of Teachers pledges its support in working alongside health professionals, families, and communities to ensure that every child knows help is available and that no student feels alone in moments of crisis.” (SB)

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Santo Domingo.- The Institute for Innovation in Biotechnology and Industry (IIBI) has warned that antibiotic-resistant bacteria found in the Dominican Republic’s main rivers pose a serious threat to public health. The institute urges stronger environmental monitoring, improved wastewater treatment, and responsible use of antibiotics to mitigate risks.

Research conducted on the Ozama, Isabela, Yaque del Norte, and Yaque del Sur rivers detected bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, and Acinetobacter. These microorganisms, classified by the WHO as priority pathogens due to their drug resistance, are linked to intestinal, urinary, respiratory, and skin infections. The study, led by Dr. Edian F. Franco and Professor Luis O. Maroto, used whole-genome sequencing and metagenomics to identify bacterial presence and capabilities, allowing researchers to trace contamination sources and inform mitigation strategies.

Key findings revealed that Ozama and Isabela rivers, in densely populated urban areas, showed contamination from domestic and industrial discharges. Yaque del Norte exhibited rising intestinal bacteria levels along its course through agricultural and urban zones. In Yaque del Sur, sediment samples contained DNA from Vibrio cholerae and Salmonella, posing a risk if water is used untreated.

The IIBI stressed that river water is vital for cooking, washing, irrigation, and the economy, and that the spread of resistant bacteria could make common infections more severe, expensive, and difficult to treat. The research, conducted with students from INTEC, ISFODOSU, and ISA and funded by MESCYT–FONDOCyT, has already produced international publications, with further monitoring results forthcoming.

Santo Domingo.- The second edition of the International Forum on Quality and Safety in Health will take place on Wednesday, September 17, at the Hotel Aloft Santo Domingo, bringing together specialists from the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Colombia, and Chile to discuss the challenges of modern medicine and strategies to strengthen more humane, safe, and sustainable healthcare systems.

The event will feature keynote presentations on topics such as digital transformation, artificial intelligence, critical care management, innovation in healthcare, and the importance of human talent in driving excellence. Speakers include Dr. Gastón Gabin of CEMDOE, Dr. Maril Núñez, Cleber Sampaio from Brazil, Dr. Carlos Kerguelen from Colombia, Dr. Alejandro Mauro from Chile, and Dr. Francisco Méndez of CEDIMAT.

With this initiative, CEMDOE reaffirms its commitment to promoting innovation, safety, and quality in healthcare, positioning the Dominican Republic as part of the global dialogue on medical transformation and excellence in patient care.

Stating that “difficult conversations can save lives”, the head of a youth-led mental health advocacy group has urged young Caribbean advocates to embrace open dialogue and shared responsibility in tackling suicide prevention.

Dr David Johnson, president of Let’s Unpack It, was speaking at Suicide Prevention: A Conversation with Caribbean Youth, a youth-focused forum held ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10.

The event brought together young people from across the region to confront stigma, share experiences and push for systemic change.

“In a region where suicide is still treated as a taboo topic, where young people are facing a myriad number of challenges and stressors that heighten their risk, and where we’re still lagging behind on the implementation of national suicide prevention strategies, your presence here signals that you care,” Johnson told participants gathered at the Barbados office of the Pan American Health Organisation.

He urged attendees not to treat the conversation as a one-off observance, but as a catalyst for action.

“These spaces are not just about marking a day,” he said. “They’re about reevaluating our approach, changing the narrative around suicide, and mobilising the systemic change that will make it easier for young people to access life-saving care and support.”

Johnson emphasised that suicide prevention is not solely the responsibility of governments or health professionals.

“Let us embrace it as a moral responsibility that falls on all of us,” Johnson said. “It starts with how we show up for each other, how we listen, how we notice changes, and how we respond when someone is hurting.”

He urged young people to build strong communities of support and not shy away from uncomfortable moments. “Difficult conversations can save lives,” he said.

Johnson also called on Caribbean governments to strengthen their efforts by adopting evidence-based strategies grounded in the World Health Organisation’s Live Life approach – strategies that empower young people to claim their right to mental health and access high-quality care without fear or stigma. (SB)

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SADO and its partners will commence their awareness campaign on 1 September 2025, culminating on 1 November 2025, with the annual walk from Hermitage to Progress Park

View the full post SADO launches 2025 Cancer Awareness Campaign on NOW Grenada.

Health authorities on Monday intensified calls for vigilance in Barbados amid regional outbreaks of chikungunya and new Oropouche virus cases, warning that the country’s tropical conditions leave it vulnerable despite no current outbreaks here.

The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) on Friday called for reinforcement of surveillance, clinical management, and vector control to tackle these outbreaks across the Americas. PAHO cautioned that the simultaneous presence of these and other arboviruses increases the risk of outbreaks, severe complications, and fatalities among vulnerable populations.

While Barbadian health officials are assuring the country that there is no outbreak of any of these or other viral diseases, the Ministry of Health says Zika, chikungunya, dengue, and Oropouche are of particular concern.

 “The diseases of concern to the ministry are Zika, chikungunya, and Oropouche, in addition to dengue fever. We recently reported to PAHO regarding cases of chikungunya in Barbados. We had 14 confirmed cases in 2024, and so far this year, we have had six confirmed cases,” Chief Medical Officer Dr Kenneth George told Barbados TODAY.

Dr George said that although chikungunya is transmitted via the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito and its symptoms are similar to those of dengue fever, there is a difference in the outcome.

The chief medical officer explained that chikungunya has a longer effect that persists for months after the infection has cleared.

The government’s top public health adviser pointed out that the levels of chikungunya remain low, with only six cases reported this year. He said the health ministry would carry out chikungunya and Zika screening if tests for dengue fever prove negative. 

“If we are receiving negative dengue cases, and persons are presenting with symptoms of mosquito-borne illness, we then do a wider screen for Zika, chikungunya and other viral agents,” he explained.

Dr George added: “We have not had any reported cases of Zika for several years. Remember, Zika is the infection that presents similarly to dengue, but is a cause for concern because it can affect pregnant women, leading to some form of birth defect. But there are no cases of Zika in Barbados for the past five years.”

Noting that the country experiences intermittent cases of chikungunya, he said the Ministry of Health will continue to conduct tests.

“We know that the vector Aedes aegypti mosquito is present … in Barbados,” the chief medical officer said. “Dengue is endemic in Barbados. We have always had dengue fever, but there is no outbreak of dengue on island at the moment.”

But, Dr George cautioned residents against becoming complacent: “Barbadians still need to play their part, not only in protecting themselves but in ensuring that breeding areas close to their properties are eliminated.”

On the Oropouche virus, which can be transmitted by sand flies, the top public health expert revealed that Barbados has not had any new cases for over a year and a half. But Barbadians can have confidence in the country’s surveillance system, he said.

“We have a strong surveillance system in Barbados that captures prevailing illnesses within the population. Our data suggests there is no Oropouche, so I have to believe it,” he declared.

According to a new epidemiological alert from PAHO, the largest chikungunya outbreaks have been concentrated in South America—particularly Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay—and in parts of the Caribbean. These are associated with the Asian and East/Central/South African (ECSA) genotypes, marking a shift in the pattern observed since 2014. Cases reported in the Indian Ocean region, Europe, and Asia also raise the risk of reintroduction and further spread into new areas with conditions conducive to transmission.

PAHO reports that as of August 9, 14 countries in the region reported a total of 212 029 suspected chikungunya cases and 110 deaths, with more than 97 per cent occurring in South America.

 In comparison, 2024 saw 431 417 reported cases and 245 deaths—indicating a decline this year, though localised outbreaks remain active.

In the first seven months of the year, over 12 700 confirmed Oropouche cases have been reported in 11 countries, including indigenous cases in Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela which were not attributed to travellers.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

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The Metropolitan Hospital of Santiago (HOMS) and the Centers for Diagnostics, Advanced Medicine, and Telemedicine (Cedimat) made history by introducing the MagDI System for bariatric surgery against obesity. It is a milestone in bariatric and metabolic surgery in the Dominican Republic.

HOMS, together with its Digestive, Bariatric, and Precision Surgery Institute, and in collaboration with Jenner Dominicana, performed the first Magnetic Bariatric Surgery in the Dominican Republic, Central America, and the Caribbean, consolidating its position as a regional benchmark in surgical innovation.

For the first time

Magnetic bariatric surgery, performed at Homs and Cedimat, is a hybrid procedure that creates a partial bypass of the small intestine (between the duodenum and ileum) by placing a magnet endoscopically in the duodenum and another laparoscopically in the ileum.

These magnets attract each other to form an anastomosis, which allows for a faster recovery with less pain, no blood loss, and a lower risk.

In Santiago, the procedure was attended by Rafael Sánchez Español, General Director and bariatric surgeon; Héctor Sánchez Navarro, Head of Robotic and Bariatric Surgery; and James Hamilton, Director of Innovation and Quality.

This team had the honor of welcoming Michel Gagner, a Canadian pioneer in bariatric surgery and creator of the MagDI technique used in this procedure. Also present were Brígida Navarro, gastroenterologist and director of the Center for Digestive Studies, and Luis Peralta.

From Cedimat

In its press release, the company states that it has consolidated its leadership in the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes with the introduction of the revolutionary MagDI system, a minimally invasive bariatric and metabolic technique that marks a significant milestone in Dominican medicine. This advancement was presented by Dr. Luis Alfredo Betances, director of the Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Program at CEDIMAT, along with Dr. Michel Garnier (creator of the technology) at the Bariatric Institute.