Santo Domingo, DR
On the commemoration yesterday of World Colon Cancer Day, the Dominican Institute of Gastroenterology (INDDEG) reported that at least 148 patients were diagnosed with colon polyps out of 1,073 studies carried out on people from different regions of the country.

These statistics constitute a “very high” prevalence figure, representing 13.7% of the confirmed cases of colon cancer. An investigation carried out between July 2022 and January 2023 by Dr. Eddy Herrera and Dr. Elaine De los Santos, director and deputy director of INDDEG, revealed that the sex most often diagnosed with the disease is female.

However, men are more affected in general. The most frequent anatomical location is rectosigmoid.
The doctors define the disease as any mass or tumor originating in the colon or rectum’s wall or mucosa and protruding into the lumen.

The study “Prevalence of Colonic Polyps in the Dominican Institute of Gastroenterology” assures that the age range where colonic polyps were found is between 40 and 60 years old and warns of the need to look for outlets for early detection to save lives and prevent the diagnosis through healthier lifestyle habits.

A plan which was in place since 2017 has finally been fulfilled and that is the ability to offer elite, emerging and developing athletes a place where their medicals can be done as well as a full sports medicine assessment.
The launch of the programme, which is a collaboration between the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA), the Barbados Sports Medicine Association (BSMA) and the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Community Empowerment, took place today at the BOA’s headquarters.
Speaking at the launch, president of the BSMA, Dr Carl Ward said that they will initially be catering for around 70 athletes. He said they are trying to offer more to the athletes but it will first start with an assessment clinic.
Ward said athletes will have a comprehensive medical yearly, as well as the medical that they would be required to have before travelling with a team on national duty.
Ward revealed that they will also have a referral system in place to deal with any problems that they may find.
One of the areas which they wish to address is the number of athletes who have been quitting their respective sports due to injuries that have gone untreated.
Another worrying trend which it hopes will be addressed is that of athletes who do not seek out trained professionals due to either financial reasons or lack of knowledge as to where they can find assistance.
Ward hopes that this will be the start of helping the developing and emerging athletes forge a pathway to the elite level regardless of injury.
Minister of Sport, Charles Griffith said that he also wanted some satellite places for the programme so that those who do not have transportation can still benefit from the programme.
However, Ward pointed out that a lack of human resources was the biggest problem with expanding the programme at the moment which is why they were catering for the current numbers.
Griffith voiced his concern that many athletes do not understand the impact that nutrition has on their careers.
He said a lot will now depend on coaches paying attention to and being aware of what is happening in terms of injuries. He also called for a mandate that all national federations be made to educate their coaches as to what is programs are in place.
Griffith also offered some space at the Wildey Gymnasium to help expand their program.
All three entities BMSA, BOA and the Ministry of Sport hope to collaborate in the future with the University of the West Indies.
(CG)

The post Athletes to benefit from new programme appeared first on Barbados Today.

A plan which was in place since 2017 has finally been fulfilled and that is the ability to offer elite, emerging and developing athletes a place where their medicals can be done as well as a full sports medicine assessment.

The launch of the programme, which is a collaboration between the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA), the Barbados Sports Medicine Association (BSMA) and the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Community Empowerment, took place today at the BOA’s headquarters.

Speaking at the launch, president of the BSMA, Dr Carl Ward said that they will initially be catering for around 70 athletes. He said they are trying to offer more to the athletes but it will first start with an assessment clinic.

Ward said athletes will have a comprehensive medical yearly, as well as the medical that they would be required to have before travelling with a team on national duty.

Ward revealed that they will also have a referral system in place to deal with any problems that they may find.

One of the areas which they wish to address is the number of athletes who have been quitting their respective sports due to injuries that have gone untreated.

Another worrying trend that it hopes will be addressed is that of athletes who do not seek out trained professionals due to either financial reasons or lack of knowledge as to where they can find assistance.

Ward hopes that this will be the start of helping to develop and emerging athletes to forge a pathway to the elite level regardless of injury.

Minister of Sport, Charles Griffith said that he also wanted some satellite places for the programme so that those who do not have transportation can still benefit from the programme.

However, Ward pointed out that a lack of human resources was the biggest problem with expanding the programme at the moment which is why they were catering for the current numbers.

Griffith voiced his concern that many athletes do not understand the impact that nutrition has on their careers.

He said a lot will now depend on coaches paying attention to and being aware of what is happening in terms of injuries. He also called for a mandate that all national federations be made to educate their coaches as to what is programs are in place.

Griffith also offered some space at the Wildey Gymnasium to help expand their program.

All three entities BMSA, BOA and the Ministry of Sport hope to collaborate in the future with the University of the West Indies.

(CG)

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Centenarian Lorna Austin was a woman of few words on Wednesday, and her memory may not be the sharpest, but friends and family who helped her celebrate her milestone were full of stories of how lively she was in her younger years.

Their recollections also shared a similar theme—that of a woman whose life focused on the love of her family.

During an intimate party held at her Christ Church home, the Guyanese-born mother of three was mostly quiet as a fuss was made about her.

Her daughter, Betty-June Leacock, told the media that the day was a special one for her and her family.

“She is actually only the second [centenarian] that I have encountered. I am still in awe of my own mum as a centenarian and I think it has been a wonderful day so far. I feel blessed to have my mom at 100 years and for others to come and share in the experience,” she told the media as she indicated her mother was in good health.

Her brother Nigel Austin mirrored those sentiments, adding, “She is an example of what perseverance and resolve are all about… a perfect example of that. I hope to be able to follow in those footsteps.”

He spoke about some of his mother’s life experiences, including studying in England, doing secretarial work at The Barbados Advocate, and being a secretary for the late Sir William Arthur Lewis during his time as President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

However, he said it was her love for her late husband, Leo Austin, that meant the most to her during her lifetime, and she felt the weight of his passing in 1996.

“Daddy always had like this umbrella over her to protect her; he had her like in a bubble. Anything she wanted, Daddy took care of. She was devastated when he passed. “We were really worried about her,” Austin recalled.

“Over time, she bounced back and at that age, she then decided to embrace technology. She got onto the computer, learned how to use [it], communicated with all of her friends overseas via email, [and] took all of the bookings for the apartments, which she rented out, via email.

“I know the days where she would say ‘Nigel, when you come over I want you to look at the computer for me, I am not getting online’ or ‘there is an email I want to send but these attachments are not going’. She was fascinated all of the time with technology. Then when cell phones came about, where we could take pictures and so on, up till now she is still amazed about how you could take photographs on a cell phone.”

The centenarian’s best friend, Norma Odle, spoke about their friendship.

“We had great times together [and] always kept close together. As the children came on, I even remember Old Year’s Night when Leo and Lorna would bring the kids over to my house with my kids, and the four of us, my husband and I and Lorna and Leo, would go dancing, [and] bring back home the top hats for the children the next morning.

“We had some beautiful times together… never left each other out. Since my husband died 28 years ago, Leo passed the year after him, and Lorna and I kept very close always,” she said.

Odle said that while Austin no longer remembered her, the love she had for her close friend had not faded.

“She doesn’t know me now but I am still close in heart with her…. I love her very much,” she said.

Representatives from the Barbados Association of Retired Persons as well as the National Union of Public Workers paid tribute to Austin during the celebrations.

The centenarian has three children and five grandchildren, most of whom still live in Barbados. (SB)

The post Austin showered with praise on 100th birthday appeared first on Barbados Today.

Centenarian Lorna Austin was a woman of few words on Wednesday, and her memory may not be the sharpest, but friends and family who helped her celebrate her milestone were full of stories of how lively she was in her younger years.

Their recollections also shared a similar theme – that of a woman whose life focused on the love for her family.

During an intimate party held at her Christ Church home, the Guyanese-born mother of three was mostly quiet as a fuss was made of her.

Her daughter Betty-June Leacock told the media that the day was a special one for her and her family.

“She is actually only the second [centenarian] that I have encountered. I am still in awe of my own mum as a centenarian and I think it has been a wonderful day so far. I feel blessed to have my mom at 100 years and for others to come and share in the experience,” she told the media as she indicated her mother was in good health.

Her brother Nigel Austin mirrored those sentiments, adding: “She is an example of what perseverance and resolve is all about… a perfect example of that. I hope to be able to follow in those footsteps.”

He spoke about some of his mother’s life experiences, including studying in England, doing secretarial work at The Barbados Advocate, and being a secretary for the late Sir William Arthur Lewis during his time as President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

However, he said it was the love for her late husband, Leo Austin that meant the most to her during her lifetime and she felt the weight of his passing in 1996.

“Daddy always had like this umbrella over her to protect her, had her like in a bubble. Anything she wanted, Daddy took care of. She was devastated when he passed…. We were really worried about her,” Austin recalled.

“Over time, she bounced back and at that age, she then decided to embrace technology. She got onto the computer, learned how to use [it], communicated with all of her friends overseas via email, [and] took all of the bookings for the apartments, which she rented out, via email.

“I know the days where she would say ‘Nigel, when you come over I want you to look at the computer for me, I am not getting online’ or ‘there is an email I want to send but these attachments are not going’. She was fascinated all of the time with technology. Then when cell phones came about, where we could take pictures and so on, up till now she is still amazed about how you could take photographs on a cell phone.”

The centenarian’s best friend Norma Odle spoke about their friendship.

“We had great times together [and] always kept close together. As the children came on, I even remember Old Year’s Night when Leo and Lorna would bring the kids over to my house with my kids, and the four of us, my husband and I and Lorna and Leo, would go dancing, [and] bring back home the top hats for the children the next morning.

“We had some beautiful times together… never left each other out. Since my husband died 28 years ago, Leo passed the year after him, and Lorna and I kept very close always,” she said.

Odle said that while Austin no longer remembered her, the love she had for her close friend has not faded.

“She doesn’t know me now but I am still close in heart with her…. I love her very much,” she said.

Representatives from the Barbados Association of Retired Persons as well as the National Union of Public Workers paid tribute to Austin during the celebrations.

The centenarian has three children and five grandchildren, most of whom still live in Barbados. (SB)

The post Austin showered with praise on 100th birthday appeared first on Barbados Today.

View the full post Wastewater system for La Calome Housing Development on NOW Grenada.

Essential medicines are defined as drugs that meet the priority healthcare needs of the population.

The need for effective treatments for obesity is pressing, with over 650 million adults worldwide now classified as obese, more than triple the rate in 1975, and a further 1.3 billion classified as overweight. Approximately 70% of those affected live in low- and middle-income countries. The number of people with obesity is projected to rise to 1.9 billion by 2035, meaning almost one in four people worldwide will have the condition. Similarly, it is estimated that almost 400 million children will be affected by obesity by 2035, representing almost one in five children globally.

Obesity is associated with over 200 other health conditions, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, fatty liver, and certain types of cancer. A WHO advisory panel will be reviewing new drug requests next month, with an updated list of essential medicines expected to be released in September.

The Canadian government on Tuesday inked a CDN$2.5 million agreement with the non-governmental organisation, Giving Health to Kids, to improve maternal, newborn and child health in Guyana’s hinterland after research showed some worrisome findings. President of Giving Health to Kids, Associate Clinical Professor at Mc Master University, Dr Narendra Singh said the five-year project has ...

By Sheria Brathwaite

The Black Rock, St Michael resident at the centre of the environmental issue affecting St Stephen’s Nursery School says she was shocked that a problem with odour from her chicken pens was not brought to her attention by the school’s administration before it became a national issue.

On Monday, the 60-year-old woman who did not want to be identified, told Barbados TODAY that she had no idea her chicken coop was affecting the school, which is an arm’s length away from her family home. She said she is somewhat puzzled about the turn of events that threw the matter onto the national stage.

Particularly troubling for her, was that her family has had a long-standing relationship with the school and they always did anything they could for the wellbeing of the students and staff.

She questioned why school officials did not contact her about the problem first before it was escalated.

“The scent was unknown to us and nobody ever came to me and tell me about the chicken pens. Nobody came here and had a talk with me. I didn’t even know it was in the paper till somebody phone and tell me,” she said. “It made me feel very bad and shocked. I have a lot going on right now. I have to bury my aunt Wednesday and my uncle died four months ago and now this here. It is torture, it is hell, but my God, My Redeemer lives.”

The woman said that management at the school had contacted her prior about an overhanging mango tree that was causing a mess on the school’s compound and she believes that the same way she was contacted about the fruit free, the odour from her pens could have been brought to her attention.

“In January when the headmistress wanted the mango tree cut down she came and holler for my name. So if she knew she could smell chickens, before it blew up like this, she could have come here the same way she came here before and call me, but she said nothing. She had a right to come to me and tell me instead of making it a whole issue.

“If she could come to me in January that means we were corresponding. She has called me on my phone too, on my landline, so she has my number. So why now, she couldn’t contact me? 

“It didn’t have to escalate to this. They treated me like I am a damn criminal. If she had tell me she was smelling something I would come and rectify the odour.

“. . .Then when I heard they had the children at the church, that they had their lunch in the yard and had to walk through the graveyard to get to the washroom, I thought that was more unsanitary than what they say I was doing to them.”

The environmental problem affecting the school was first raised on Monday March 13 when the school closed early and two days later, parents were given the option to collect their children from the facility though it remained open. The school was closed again on Friday March 17 and the Ministry of Education gave the assurance that the issue would have been rectified but the following Monday the school was closed again.

The next day students were relocated at the neighbouring St Stephen’s Anglican Church but that was later removed as an option after teachers and parents complained that the environment was not conducive to learning.

The ministry then closed the school for the remaining week and made provisions for online classes on Wednesday and Thursday.

Meanwhile, President of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) Rudy Lovell said that things went relatively smoothly as the students returned to the classroom on Monday.

“From all accounts things went well today. The staff is comfortable and the students are comfortable and we are thankful that it appears as if the issue has been resolved at least for the time being,” he said.

Meanwhile, the neighbour said that a health inspector told her she had to get rid of the birds and she did so at a loss to her.

Though she preferred not to go into detail about the situation she said she had been rearing broilers and layers for about a year. 

“I had to get rid of them before their time so I incurred losses,” she said about the last set of birds.

The woman’s 79-year-old mother, who also did not want to be identified, said that she was responsible for erecting the gate at the back entrance of the school as the school abuts and abounds her property. She added that when staff at the school needed supplies they would shout for her.

“When the water was off and they didn’t have water to wash up the wares I put my hose through the fence so the school meals workers could wash up. If they want anything they come here. If they want a shovel, they come here, if they want a broom they come here. 

This was going on for years,” she said.

Asked if any contact was made to the neighbour before the situation escalated, Lovell said: “That is not an issue that the union can speak on. All we can say is that concerns were brought to our attention by our members who teach at the school and we then brought those concerns to the Ministry of Education who then contacted the Ministry of Health.” 

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb

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Psychologist Shawn Clarke is urging the Government to incorporate the existing services of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in efforts to address the whopping increase in mental health cases since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The founder and director of Supreme Counselling for Personal Development made the suggestion in response to a recent disclosure by Minister of Health Dr the Most Honourable Jerome Walcott that the number of Barbadians seeking assistance for mental health issues had risen more than 200 per cent in the last three years.

Speaking in the Senate last week, Minister Walcott acknowledged that given those statistics, “we need to look at public education and the stigma associated with mental health illness, [and] we need to look at community mental health”. 

“We need to integrate it totally into the polyclinic system. We are expanding the numbers of psychiatrists and counselling psychologists in the community because we need to move it into the community,” he had said.

While agreeing that was “a positive move”, Clarke emphasised the need for the Government to utilise services and programmes which smaller NGOs have already started.

“Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, there are a number of organisations in Barbados, like Supreme Counselling, who have been offering such services to the community, and we are on the ground. So, we know the people, we know where they are at, [and] we know the persons who would really need to access the services,” he told Barbados TODAY.

“We have to make these services readily available to the community and we also need to make it free of cost so that persons who need to access the services can do so.

“So it’s a good initiative but I think they need to collaborate more with the non-governmental organisations to access those services,” he added.

Clarke identified an initiative his NGO started in February under which he said its services have been decentralised and work is being done with specific communities, including The Pine, St Michael and Mason Hall Street,The City.

The psychologist told Barbados TODAY that given the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the statistics revealed by the Health Minister were not surprising.

“If I cast my mind as far back as the beginning of COVID when we had our first shutdown, I remember warning Barbados that we would have to put measures in place to deal with the backlash from COVID and the effect that it would have on young people and their mental psyche,” he said.

“I remember at that time also warning Barbados that when the children return to school, for the first month or so, it could not be school as usual. We could not just go straight back to teaching the academics, but the school needed to do a lot of work bringing in counsellors, working with the guidance counsellors and so on, doing sessions to help the young people to cope with what they would have been through. 

“So I am not at all surprised by the statistics laid . . . by the minister. We ourselves at Supreme Counselling would have seen an increase of young people coming in or requesting our services for depression and anxiety,” Clarke added.

During his contribution to the debate on the Appropriation Bill, 2023, Minister Walcott said that some of the violence displayed by students in schools appears to be linked to mental health issues. (SB)

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