The Queen Elizabeth Hospital has intensified its call for blood donations, warning that stocks are running low and that more donors are urgently needed to sustain essential emergency and surgical care.

Dr Christine Greenidge, chief operations officer, highlighted the importance of community support as she appeared on the hospital’s Pulse Radio Show.

“Blood is critical for the work that our doctors do in the Emergency Department and elsewhere in saving lives,” she said.

Trauma cases, including gunshot and stabbing wounds, often require large volumes of blood, making donations essential, she added.

She also made an urgent call for rare blood types, such as O negative and A negative, and commended recent donors who responded promptly to calls for these types.

“Recently, we made a call… we wanted those individuals that we have a relationship with to come in and give us that donation… and they did just that,” she said.

Several blood drives are scheduled across the island in October to boost national reserves.

Collection teams would be at Ross University on Friday and Saturday, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) from October 13 to 16 and Bajan Sigmas on October 23.   

Donors can visit the QEH Blood Bank, located next to the Winston Scott Polyclinic, where staff, including manager Wendy Lord, are ready to assist, Dr Greenidge said.

Both whole blood and platelets are needed to meet patient demands.

“When we get to the level where our stock is not where it needs to be, the appeal that would go up… that’s a responsible thing that we must do to ensure those units are readily available,” she said. “If you know for a fact that you are in that rare blood group and you want to donate, feel free to head down to the blood bank.” (LG)

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The Ministry of Health and Wellness is awaiting a formal report from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) to determine whether Barbados has achieved official verification for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Acting Permanent Secretary Wayne Webster confirmed that the recent PAHO assessment was conducted at the ministry’s request to independently evaluate Barbados’ readiness to meet the operational standards required for validation.

“The recent assessment conducted by PAHO was done at the invitation of the ministry,” Webster said. “The aim was to obtain independent verification of Barbados’ operational effectiveness in meeting EMTCT standards for HIV.

“The PAHO team conducted a robust assessment of the key elements of service through visits to health care facilities and laboratories, and reviewed data and surveillance systems that are used in the process of providing services to support EMTCT.

“The initial feedback is extremely encouraging. However, a formal report will be provided to the ministry in due course and, to that extent, the ministry cannot give a date for next steps.”

Asked why the process had taken several years to reach this stage, Webster said certification demands sustained, deliberate progress.

“Healthcare improvement is a continuous and very deliberate process at that, because it involves people’s lives,” he said.

If verified, Barbados would become the 12th Caribbean country to officially eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, joining Belize, Jamaica, and St Vincent and the Grenadines, which received certification last year. The EMTCT verification process also covers efforts to prevent transmission of syphilis and hepatitis B from mother to child.

A PAHO delegation completed a pre-assessment last week, touring major health facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and polyclinics, to evaluate testing protocols, maternal care, and disease surveillance systems. Barbados is expected to receive accreditation by year-end. (SZB)

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Santo Domingo.- The International Forum “Mental Health and the Penitentiary System” will take place on October 10 and 11, 2025, at the Pedro Henríquez Ureña National Library Auditorium, in observance of International Mental Health Day. Organized by ONAPREP in coordination with the Regional Penitentiary Academy (ARP), the Prisons Forum, the Dominican College of Psychologists (CODOPSI), and the Dominican Association of Social Work Professionals (ADOPTRASOC), the forum will bring together specialists from Argentina, Spain, the United States, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.

Over two days, participants will discuss mental health in prison settings, covering topics such as the connection between mental health and criminal justice, the biopsychosocial approach to behavior, youth risk factors, challenges in the Dominican penitentiary system, and international best practices for psychological care of inmates. Key international speakers include Elliot Palma, Juan Carlos Corzo, Carlos Fonfrías, Julio Santana Mariño, Juan Carlos Domínguez, Silvio Angelini, and Nubia Lluberes.

The opening ceremony will feature remarks from Minister of Public Health Dr. Víctor Atallah, ONAPREP director Roberto Santana, forum coordinator Elliott Palma, and Yanis Mejía, coordinator of ONAPREP’s Health Department and CODOPSI president. The program includes keynote addresses, thematic panels, roundtables, and the signing of the Ibero-American Declaration on Mental Health and the Penitentiary System, summarizing the forum’s conclusions and proposals. The event aims to strengthen cooperation between justice, health, and educational institutions, promoting evidence-based public policies and human rights to improve comprehensive care in prisons.

Barbados is set to become the 12th Caribbean nation officially recognised for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV by the end of 2025, following a pre-assessment by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) that found strong progress and commitment across the island’s health services.

The elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission — known as EMTCT —  includes stepped-up efforts to protect mothers and babies from syphilis and hepatitis B.

The certification, expected by year-end, follows similar declarations in Belize, Jamaica, and St Vincent and the Grenadines last year. Cuba blazed the trail a decade ago, as the world’s first, by simultaneously preventing the spread of both HIV and syphilis from mother to child.

A PAHO team, accompanied by a regional laboratory expert, joined a national health team to conduct a pre-assessment exercise from Tuesday to Friday last week, PAHO said in a release. The review mirrors an official EMTCT evaluation and aims to identify gaps and challenges before a formal certification mission.

During the visit, the PAHO delegation met senior health officials to outline objectives and share preliminary findings, the hemispheric health agency said. They toured health facilities — including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, polyclinics, and a private medical centre — to assess services for pregnant and lactating women, and inspected laboratories to ensure testing and diagnostics meet international standards.

The exercise allowed the teams to review HIV services, maternal and child clinics, vaccination and treatment programmes, and disease surveillance systems critical to preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B. They also offered recommendations to strengthen service delivery.

“Achieving EMTCT certification would be a national milestone for Barbados,” said Dr Amalia Del Riego, PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries.

“It demonstrates the strength of Barbados’ HIV services. It also shows the quality of public health services and especially maternal and child health (MCH) and sexually transmitted infection (STI) services, and their commitment to ensure that every child has the healthiest start in life. The private health sector also plays a fundamental role in the health system and is an important pillar in achieving universal health coverage and sustainable development.

“For PAHO, the sum of all these services is critical to ensure health equity, strengthen health systems, and improve the population’s health. Providing support to Barbados in this elimination process is an important dimension for PAHO, aiming to ensuring no missed opportunities for prevention of diseases.”

Certification by the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirms that a country has robust systems to prevent HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B transmission from mother to child, and demonstrates the delivery of high-quality, accessible care for pregnant women and newborns.

(SZB)

The path to ending mother-to-child transmission

Eleven Caribbean countries have achieved PAHO/WHO international certification for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis as of 2024:

● Cuba: 2015 (first country in the world to achieve dual elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis)

● Anguilla: 2017

● Antigua and Barbuda: 2017

● Bermuda: 2017

● Cayman Islands: 2017

● Montserrat:  2017

● St Kitts and Nevis: 2017

● Dominica: 2021

● Belize: 2024

● Jamaica: 2024

● St Vincent and the Grenadines: 2024

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Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic is emerging as a top destination for medical tourism, offering world-class hospitals, international accreditations, bilingual professionals, and treatment costs 40–60% lower than in the United States. According to Dr. Alejandro Cambiaso, president of the Dominican Association of Medical Tourism (ADTS), the country’s strong flight connectivity, year-round tropical climate, and renowned hospitality further strengthen its appeal.

Cambiaso highlighted that medical tourists spend an average of US$7,500 per visit, far more than the US$1,200 spent by leisure travelers, generating significant economic and social impact. He emphasized that health tourism raises local medical standards through international accreditation, creates quality jobs, attracts investment, and fosters innovation. It also serves the Dominican diaspora by offering safe and high-quality care in their home country.

Looking ahead, Cambiaso stressed the need to consolidate regional leadership through integrated recovery packages, partnerships with U.S. hospitals, expanded insurance coverage, and new investments in hospitals and wellness resorts. Medical tourism already generates around US$1.4 billion annually and represents 4% of tourist visits. He invited stakeholders to the 7th International Congress on Health and Wellness Tourism, scheduled for October 23, 2025, in Santo Domingo, which will focus on innovation and multisector integration.

“Specific foods such as fried meats, aged cheeses — like Cheddar and Swiss, citrus fruits, coffee, pickles and smoked herring were more frequently associated with chronic migraines”

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Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader inaugurated the Dr. José Joaquín Puello General Clinical-Surgical Hospital at the Dr. Luis Eduardo Aybar Health City, marking a major milestone in the modernization of healthcare in the Dominican Republic. The hospital, built with an investment of RD 3,207 million, features the most complete Burn Unit in the Caribbean, a hemodialysis area with 28 chairs, 14 operating rooms, 40 ICU beds, and 232 general beds, significantly expanding surgical and care capacity. Abinader highlighted that the project reflects the government’s commitment to completing major national initiatives, regardless of who began them, ensuring public resources are efficiently utilized.

The hospital incorporates state-of-the-art technology and modern infrastructure designed to provide comprehensive clinical, surgical, and emergency care. It introduces flexible and specialized units, including maternal and child care, ICU, and dialysis services, consolidating the Health City as a national and regional healthcare benchmark. The facility’s phased opening will begin on October 20 with the Burn Unit and selected ICU units, with full services operational by January 1. Officials stressed the hospital’s role in improving healthcare accessibility, efficiency, and quality across the country.

The president emphasized that the hospital reflects the government’s passion, transparency, and determination to continue improving health services throughout the Dominican Republic.

Santiago, D.R.- President Luis Abinader announced Monday that he will wait for the Public Ministry to conclude its investigation into alleged irregularities at the National Health Insurance (Senasa), after the government submitted a report on the case.

During his weekly meeting with the press in Santiago, Abinader emphasized that his administration does not tolerate corruption and is working to dismantle the culture of impunity that has affected the Dominican Republic for decades. He stressed that all corruption cases, even those linked to government agencies, will be addressed and that preventive measures are being prepared to reduce the risk of similar crimes in the future.

The president noted that Senasa operates as an autonomous institution and is not subject to the Public Procurement and Contracting Law, but reiterated his expectation for a detailed explanation from the Public Prosecutor’s Office. He reaffirmed his commitment to zero tolerance for corruption, regardless of where it originates.