The infections correspond to three men aged 79, 51, and 27, as well as three women aged 28, 31, and 13 and a three-year-old boy, the Deputy Minister of Collective Health, Eladio Pérez, explained at a press conference. All those affected are stable, the official said.

The Dominican Republic confirmed the first case of cholera last October, corresponding to a 32-year-old woman of Haitian nationality who had then returned from the neighboring country, where the outbreak of the disease has already caused at least 560 deaths. In Haiti, 27,434 suspected cases of cholera have been recorded, of which 2,057 have been confirmed, and 23,540 patients have been hospitalized, according to the latest official data.

A total of 11,097 people have already been vaccinated against cholera in the Dominican Republic.

According to Pérez, the vaccine is called “Jynneos”, belonging to the “Bavarian Nordic” brand, it is of a “fairly known and tolerable technology, with very low adverse effects”, and only those over 18 years of age may be inoculated.

“We have been able to access an emergency stock that the World Health Organization has for cases of seismic smallpox. They are already in the country. Several months ago it was announced that vaccines had been purchased, they arrived and will be available to the vulnerable population, ”he assured, adding that the State investment for the acquisition of the medicine was more than 32 million pesos. The vaccine will be applied in two different doses and initially, the Ramón de Lara Hospital and all health personnel “who will face the disease if more cases occur, will begin to be immunized since they must be duly protected.”

In addition to this, the representative of the Health Administration indicated that the medicine is stored at temperatures above 50 degrees and can take up to five years to expire.

For the feminist organization, it is an “obligation” of this legislative body to assume its commitment to the protection of women’s rights and to resist pressure from the “more retrograde” interests of political party structures “kneeling” before “powers that be” of a religious nature. The entity stated in a note that the Senate should not continue to ignore the social claims of thousands of women, particularly poor women, who demand three exemptions from abortion penalties across the country.

She went on to say that, like many other institutions and spaces for social and community struggle, the defense of women’s rights is the bedrock of critical social transformations in today’s Dominican society. Cudem described as “unacceptable” the “dogmatic” and “anti-humanist” thought, in the strict sense of the concept, which means the defense and protection of human life of beings born “alive and viable,” as established by international recognition of human rights. She reiterated her call to legislators to remove all conditioning factors and pressures, as well as to accept social and political responsibility by siding with those who, “with our work and efforts,” bear the essential burden of families, which are women.

“It is the responsibility of congressmen and women to legislate in favor of women’s rights so that women can be free to make decisions about our lives and our bodies when a pregnancy poses risks, is not viable, or is the result of rape or incest,” Cudem said.

The Walkers Institute for Regenerative Research Education and Design (WIRRED) hosted the launch of A Garden of Hope at Walkers Reserve on Saturday, January 28. This work is a creative intervention at the Reserve by Annalee Davis in collaboration with Kevin Talma and the Walkers Institute for Regenerative Research Education and Design (WIRRED). 

The name, A Garden of Hope, refers to the 17th-century Hope estate, later amalgamated into a larger Scotland plantation, once owned by Judith Powrey, becoming the foundation of what is now Walkers Reserve. It eventually shifted from sugar cane to a silica sand quarry. 

In recent years, under WIRRED’s stewardship, it has been transitioning to a site of permaculture and regeneration. That is where hope returns, through vision, knowledge, and action; an exhausted landscape is being transformed into a healthier ecosystem and a post-plantation site of healing. It is the largest regeneration project in the Caribbean region. WIRRED continues to engage with myriad partners to meet the goals of environmental conservation to increase biodiversity, develop natural habitats and build awareness around reducing the negative effects of climate change. 

In her narrative about the project, Davis says: “This plot highlights the revolutionary and subversive history of plants, acknowledging them as agents of restoration and reparation while insisting on the need for us to remember valuable systems of knowledge that are being erased or forgotten. This living apothecary is intended as a sacred space of healing, regeneration, and contemplation, honouring the traditions of bush medicine and recognising this site as hallowed ground. The plants in the garden have been designed with a focus on well-being for women’s reproductive and post-reproductive health and are also available as a natural first aid kit. 

“I hope that visitors who spend time in the Garden of Hope might reflect on the ancestors who came before us, using what was available to them for medicine – plants growing in their environment that they had to learn about to heal themselves and one another. There is also a QR code and some labelling offering information about local plant uses and traditions. This is very much a work in progress, and hopefully, there will be more opportunities to engage with the garden through workshops for those who are interested.” 

The Garden of Hope is one of the first installations under the eARTh programme at Walkers Reserve. There is no earth without ART and as WIRRED continues to steward the regeneration of the Reserve from a sand quarry into a thriving space for connection and reconnection, they hold space for artistic expression and cultural transformation.

WIRRED is thankful to all contributors to the project and acknowledges everyone who has been a part of its evolution including the McNeel family, Island Developments Ltd., the team at Walkers Reserve, Richard White for the construction and maintenance of the cobb beds, and Ireka Jelani Spiritual Baptist elder who blessed the Garden at Saturday’s launch supported by her two children, Subira and Baruti. (PR)

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Newton Solano, the health center’s director, confirmed that he uses a process of optimizing supplies and medicines, “as provided for the entire Public Network,” so that it is dispatched based on the number of patients admitted, usually doubling figures to account for unforeseen events. “It is a false complaint; reusing syringes is never permitted, and it is the nurses who remove the sealed syringes from the warehouse and place the medicines on the patients,” Dr. Solano said. He explained that he has established controls to avoid waste of supplies and medicines and that the hospital has a 24-hour pharmacy service for the first time. “As a result, if any input runs out, it is dispatched immediately,” he assured.

The doctor reiterated that the Bogaert Hospital, a Cibao Occidental Regional Health Service (SRSCO) center, has all of the necessary supplies to respond to users who seek health care at that facility. Similarly, he stated that the operating room is at total capacity, that “more surgeries are being performed than ever,” and that it has been strengthened with previously unavailable services such as laparoscopy, urological, and endoscopic surgery. Finally, Ramón Rodrguez, the director of the Western Cibao Regional Health Service, stated that Dr. Solano has proven to be a director committed to management who has made every effort to provide quality services to his patients.

Concerning the other complaints from the Nursing union, the SNS stated that they are being investigated, even though it believes some are unfounded, and that the entity is working hard, hand in hand with a dedicated team, to improve the health of the country, and that changes will be made. 

President Irfaan Ali  on Saturday evening announced that his administration would soon set up a National Medical Scientific Council to harness Guyana’s best experts in the field of human medicine. He said that proposed body would be tasked with bringing Guyana’s “best talent” to investigate the best in medical science development that could be applied ...

Those types of regenerative medical treatment, which are now being offered by Woodland’s Hospital in association with the Trinidad-headquartered Fidelity Healthcare Ltd, were launched ...

The belief that men do not pay enough attention to their health was dispelled on Saturday morning when Cancer Support Services held a Prostate Specific and Carcinoembryonic Antigen (PSA/CEA) Screening. The hosting of the event was symbolic because it coincided with World Cancer Day.

This session, which took place at their office at Dayrells Road in Christ Church, attracted a large crowd.

Janette Lynton, Executive Director and Founder of Cancer Support Services, was pleased with the turnout. She noted this was their first event for the year. Events are scheduled for every six weeks. She said,  “We started at 10 am and so far we have 160 people waiting but we have seen 100 already and it’s just 12 pm and we are finishing at 1 pm.”

Lynton is appreciative of the support provided by corporate Barbados. She stated, “I want to thank all of the persons that came on board with us, Summit Rehab Centre, who sponsored 10 men today and I also want to thank the lab and all of the persons who have donated the water, everything today.”

She confirmed, “We are seeing quite a few younger persons coming out, which  is very commendable and we trust that this will continue on that trend.” She emphasised, “Although the person may get a high PSA that does not mean it is cancerous. It can be an infection; it can be so many other different things. But we always recommend that they take the results to their physician and if they don’t have a physician, we would recommend one and we usually follow up with them so that they are not left out there alone.” The procedure involves a blood test and there is nothing to fear. “Early detection is the key,” she assured.

Michael Cobham, who attended the screening, described the experience  as a pleasant one. “It was a long wait because there were a lot of people that came out to get tested today but the process itself was very simple.”  He advised, “I encourage everyone to come out. I came for my general health. Getting older I want to know more about what is happening to me. This was an opportunity to come and get the test at a discounted price, so I took it.”

Though the recommended age for the test is 35, if  there is a strong history of cancer in their family, individuals are encouraged to get screened at an earlier age.

Cancer survivor Ian Carrington was on hand promoting his self–published  book An Unexpected Challenge : My Battle with Cancer, which chronicles his  experience with the disease. He shared, “Twenty- eight years ago I had a confrontation with cancer and I thought I should share my story, looking at the impact on myself, my family and looking at the methods I used to heal and perhaps more importantly the lessons I learned in the process.”

A cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence. He said , “I subsequently learned there are a lot of people that survive it but a lot of people are not aware of that.” He reinforced that persons should listen to their bodies, if something does not feel quite right they should not hesitate to get the issue checked. His book is available at local bookstores across the island.

Summit Rehab Centre  representatives were on site displaying some of the products  that they offer. Students from Ross University School of Medicine conducted free blood pressure checks.

A similar exercise will take place in St Lucy in March to capture the northern catchment area.  (STT)

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Santo Domingo, DR
In Villa Liberación del Almirante in Santo Domingo East, cholera is “under control” after the area became a focus of concentration of the disease. At the same time, the residents of the crowded sector have heeded the call of the health authorities to be immunized against the disease, registering at least 2,804 people who received the dose.

Of the people inoculated, 1,825 were students of the neighboring schools. In contrast, the rest were inoculated at the Diagnostic Tent, vaccination posts in the Almirante, house-to-house campaigns, and the health area of the district.

Rafael Güichardo, risk manager of this health area, highlighted the municipalities’ receptiveness to oral vaccination at the health posts and house-to-house campaigns.

“They have grasped the message we have for them to get vaccinated, because it is really for their own health,” he said.

Güichardo also highlighted that in the last few days, even though they continue to attend to people in the tent, no people have come with characteristic cholera symptoms such as dehydration, vomiting, and diarrhea.

“Patients come with different pathologies, such as headaches and different pathologies, but we are not really receiving patients with suspected cholera symptoms,” he added.

An average of four people come to the tent every day.

The service remains stable regarding the drinking water supplied by the Santo Domingo Aqueduct and Sewerage Corporation (CAASD) in the water tank in the diagnostic tent located in the Diagnostic and Primary Attention Center of the sector with the assistance of tanker trucks on a daily basis.

In addition, community members are supplied with kits containing, among other things, hand sanitizers and chlorine.

Residents follow protocols

For their part, the residents stated that they follow the hygiene protocols to avoid future contagions, such is the case of María de los Santos, who confessed to having been vaccinated and also to washing the food properly, as well as to close the garbage bags tightly until the garbage collection trucks come to pick up the garbage.

By Anesta Henry 

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) is continuing to work towards clearing the backlog of people awaiting elective surgeries.

That assurance has come from Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness with responsibility for the QEH, Dr Sonia Browne, who also told Barbados TODAY she was pleased the healthcare institution was on top of its cataract surgeries.

She congratulated medical personnel and other workers who contributed to clearing up the backlog in those surgeries “in a timely manner”.

“Now, the joint replacement surgeries have started and we are looking to really get that moving swiftly and in a practical way. Right now, the joint replacement surgeries are not going as fast as I would like it but we are getting there,” she said. 

“For the other surgeries, one of the delays was the availability of theatres. All of the theatres that are available, I believe, are in use.”

Dr Browne further explained that while the three theatres at the hospital’s Lion’s Eye Care Centre have been out of use, all major ophthalmology surgeries had to be diverted to the main theatres.

She said the hospital’s management was in the process of getting a loan to get the theatres at the Eye Care Centre repaired.

“We are looking to get those back on track and working again on their own to free up some of the other theatres,” the Minister said.

Responding to complaints from patients referred to the hospital for operations, Dr Browne said that while some complaints were valid, some surgeries were delayed due to reasons beyond the QEH’s control.

She said some patients would show up for operations but their test results showed that, for example, their diabetes “is out of whack, their hypertension is out of whack, they may have eaten when they shouldn’t”, leading to scheduled surgeries having to be postponed.

“I promise you that we are looking at all of that and we are trying to work with the doctors and nurses and everybody else to see where we can address that. The issue that we found is a delay in the start time for surgery and I think we have more or less addressed that, so they start on time and the process would flow,” Dr Browne said.

During a press conference in March last year, Minister of Health and Wellness Ian Gooding-Edghill said partnerships were being explored with Cuba to reduce the backlogs, adding there was  need for “out-of-the-box commercial thinking”.

He revealed at that time that part of the plan will be to get all 12 operating theatres back into operation to be utilised “day and night” for surgeries. anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb

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