After several years of pleading with men to come forward and have their prostates tested, the signs point to a drastic change in behaviour, said Cancer Support Services’ spokesman Antoine Williams as he spoke to reporters at the end of a two-day nurses’ training workshop at Coconut Court Beach Hotel.

“When we do our prostate testing sessions, we are seeing the increases,” he said. “We try to measure it based on the numbers. So, for example, we’ve had 100, 120, 140 [men coming forward]. The numbers are increasing, which is good, and again the age groups are also increasing, so there is that awareness. We are seeing men who are even coming in as groups, whether it’s with the church (or) community groups, so there is that definite increase.”

Williams added that more people are seeking the charity’s financial support, care and counselling services: “I would say that there is definitely an uptake.”

Reverend Anderson Kellman, one of the facilitators of the programme. (SB)

Reverend Anderson Kellman, one of the facilitators of the nurse enrichment programme, said more men are also coming forward to seek counselling to help them cope with their cancer diagnosis.

“There are still more women coming for counselling than men, but I’ve seen a significant number of men come for therapy, and that is a very heartwarming reality,” he said. “We as men sometimes… grin and bear to our own destruction, but yes, we are seeing a lot more men coming now seeking counselling…. I think that is a very good sign.”

Despite the encouraging signs, the lack of human resources available to deal effectively with the demand for services is still a concern, the officials said.

“I think people have said in the sessions that the issue of not having enough manpower that they desire is a major concern. Of course, people are more demanding now in terms of service. Once upon a time, there was a mystique in terms of doctors, the nurses and the medical people, but now people can go online and read stuff and therefore have different kinds of expectations. That also puts pressure in terms of the scarce resources that they have at the QEH.

“We are not going to push a panic button, but all we are simply saying is that the (patients) are more demanding now, therefore the idea of service becomes even more important,” Reverend Kellman said.

Seventeen nurses participated in this year’s enrichment programme which drew nursing officers, registered nurses and nursing assistants from all areas of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, from the Accident and Emergency Department to the antenatal clinic. The nurses were trained in teamwork, emotional intelligence and palliative care. (SB)

The post ‘More men seeking cancer tests’ appeared first on Barbados Today.

View the full post Government hospitals receive bed linen donation on NOW Grenada.

Health officials have noticed an increase in the cases of gastrointestinal illnesses in Barbados.

The uptick in cases in persons older than five years moved from 27 in the week prior to April 27, to 34 cases at the end of that week. Previously, there were only 11 cases recorded. The alert level for this age group, at this time of the year, is less than six cases.

In children under five years old, the number of cases has moved from two to eight, for the week ending April 27.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness reported that for the subset of cases tested, foodborne pathogens had been identified (bacterial and viral) but no single source or event had been linked to the majority of cases.

It therefore urged members of the public to practise good hand hygiene which is the most effective way of reducing the transmission of many bacterial and viral illnesses. This includes washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and drying them with disposable tissue. If soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based hand sanitiser is recommended.

“Persons purchasing items to eat should ensure that sellers conduct appropriate food handling practices, such as protecting food from flies and other vectors; using suitable utensils to touch food; and maintaining hot or cold items at the correct temperatures,” it said.

The ministry also reported a moderate increase in respiratory illnesses has also been noted in persons over five years old, during the week ending April 27.

Health officials have advised that people keep unwashed hands away from the eyes, nose and mouth, and to generally avoid touching these areas as germs can enter the body this way.

(BGIS/BT)

The post Increase in gastrointestinal illnesses appeared first on Barbados Today.

Posted: Tuesday, May 7, 2024. 1:00 pm CST.

By Zoila Palma Gonzalez: Belize is one of three countries in the Americas to receive certification from the World Health Organization (WHO) for eliminating the mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis.

Today, the milestone was marked at a commemorative event organized by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in Kingston, Jamaica, with support from UNICEF and UNAIDS and with the participation of health ministers from the three countries.

Jamaica and St. Vincent and Grenadines also received certification.

WHO awards this certification to countries which have brought the mother-to-child HIV transmission rate to under 5%; provided antenatal care and antiretroviral treatment to more than 90% of pregnant women; reported fewer than 50 new cases of congenital syphilis per 100,000 newborns, and achieved an HIV case rate of fewer than 500 per 100,000 live births.

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Belize ~ We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages. Your content is delivered instantly to thousands of users in Belize and abroad! Contact us at mаrkеtіng@brеаkіngbеlіzеnеwѕ.соm or call us at 501-612-0315.

© 2024, BreakingBelizeNews.com. Content is copyrighted and requires written permission for reprinting in online or print media. Theft of content without permission/payment is punishable by law.

Comments

jQuery(function() {var $breakslider893217750 = jQuery( ".break-slider-893217750" );$breakslider893217750.on( "unslider.ready", function() { jQuery( "div.custom-slider ul li" ).css( "display", "block" ); });$breakslider893217750.unslider({ delay:4000, autoplay:true, nav:false, arrows:false, infinite:true, animation:'fade', speed:0 });$breakslider893217750.on("mouseover", function(){$breakslider893217750.unslider("stop");}).on("mouseout", function() {$breakslider893217750.unslider("start");});});

jQuery(function() {var $breakslider1454054413 = jQuery( ".break-slider-1454054413" );$breakslider1454054413.on( "unslider.ready", function() { jQuery( "div.custom-slider ul li" ).css( "display", "block" ); });$breakslider1454054413.unslider({ delay:4000, autoplay:true, nav:false, arrows:false, infinite:true, animation:'fade', speed:0 });$breakslider1454054413.on("mouseover", function(){$breakslider1454054413.unslider("stop");}).on("mouseout", function() {$breakslider1454054413.unslider("start");});});

jQuery(function() {var $breakslider1623311129 = jQuery( ".break-slider-1623311129" );$breakslider1623311129.on( "unslider.ready", function() { jQuery( "div.custom-slider ul li" ).css( "display", "block" ); });$breakslider1623311129.unslider({ delay:4000, autoplay:true, nav:false, arrows:false, infinite:true, animation:'fade', speed:0 });$breakslider1623311129.on("mouseover", function(){$breakslider1623311129.unslider("stop");}).on("mouseout", function() {$breakslider1623311129.unslider("start");});});

[taboola-ad-below-article]
-->

The post Belize certification from World Health Organization for elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.

View the full post New kitchen equipment for St Andrew’s RC Primary School on NOW Grenada.

View the full post SGU Physician Humanitarian Network brings life-changing eye care to Grenadians on NOW Grenada.

View the full post Nutrition and Menopause on NOW Grenada.

Longtime People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) member, Amna Ally on Monday appeared to be recovering from serious heart and kidney complications, well-placed sources said. Ms Ally, a former PNCR General Secretary who was recently embroiled in a public spat over her disappointment with party leader Aubrey Norton’s performance, has been hospitalised for the past two ...

As cholera continues to surge — and as vaccines remain in short supply — experts are warning about the global risk.

Cholera is a bacterial disease typically spread by food and water, leading to severe diarrhea and dehydration. It has been on the rise around the world since 2021.

Each year, there are some 1.3 to 4 million cases of cholera worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Approximately 21,000 to 143,000 deaths occur as a result.

HIGH LEVELS OF RESISTANT BACTERIA FOUND IN UNCOOKED MEATS AND RAW DOG FOOD: ‘RED FLAG’

Around 473,000 cases were reported to WHO in 2022, which was twice as many cases as the prior year.

Reported cases for 2023 are expected to exceed 700,000.

"It is concerning to see an increase in the number of cholera cases worldwide, with the majority of the cases in Asia, Africa and Latin America," Dr. Renuga Vivekanandan, M.D., assistant dean and professor at the Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska, told Fox News Digital.

The countries most affected include the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Zambia and Zimbabwe, according to UNICEF. 

Although cholera cases were prevalent in the U.S. in the 1800s, water treatment systems have largely eliminated the disease, per the CDC.

In rare cases, people in the U.S. have contracted the disease from consuming raw or undercooked shellfish from the Gulf of Mexico, the agency stated on its website.

AMID BIRD FLU SPREAD, EXPERTS REVEAL IF IT'S SAFE TO DRINK MILK: 'INDIRECT CONCERN'

"In the U.S., the cases have remained very small and are usually from travel exposure," Vivekanandan noted.

Cholera is typically spread when someone drinks water or eats food that is contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, according to the CDC.

The disease can spread quickly in locations where there is insufficient treatment of drinking water and sewage, the agency warned.

It is not typically transmitted from person to person. 

UNICEF noted in a statement that the rise in cholera is driven by "persistent gaps in access to safe water and sanitation."

"I think the cases might be increasing due to climate change, displacements of homes due to disasters, and not having good sanitary conditions, such as poor water sources," Vivekanandan told Fox News Digital.

Around 10% of the people who are infected with cholera will develop severe symptoms, including watery diarrhea, vomiting and leg cramps, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Advanced symptoms include shock and dehydration. 

Without treatment, the disease can be fatal.

"Dehydration is the biggest concern with cholera, and rehydration is the most important component of treatment," said Vivekanandan.

"Most patients with cholera will have mild diarrhea, but 10% will have severe diarrhea and will need rehydration and treatment with antibiotics."

WITH WHOOPING COUGH CASES ON THE RISE, DO YOU NEED A BOOSTER VACCINE?

Some groups are more susceptible to the disease, according to the CDC.

"Individuals with achlorhydria (the absence of hydrochloric acid in digestive stomach juices), blood type O, chronic medical conditions, and those without ready access to rehydration therapy and medical services are more likely to have severe disease from cholera and suffer poor outcomes," the agency noted.

The most effective treatment for cholera is "immediate replacement of the fluid and salts lost through diarrhea," the CDC stated.

This is achieved by giving patients a mixture of sugar and salts mixed with 1 liter of water. 

In some severe cases, the patient may require intravenous (IV) fluids.

Some patients also receive antibiotics to make symptoms less severe.

"Persons who develop severe diarrhea and vomiting in countries where cholera occurs should seek medical attention promptly," per the CDC.

There is a single-dose vaccine for cholera, called Vaxchora (lyophilized CVD 103-HgR).

CDC WARNS OF INVASIVE BACTERIAL OUTBREAK AMID SPIKE IN CASES AND FATALITY RATES: 'RARE BUT SEVERE'

Those who are between the ages of 2 and 64 and who are traveling to "an area of active cholera transmission" are eligible to receive it.

There are three other cholera vaccines, but they are not available in the U.S.

There is a "severe gap" in the number of available vaccine doses compared to the level of current need, said UNICEF on its website.

"Between 2021 and 2023, more doses were requested for outbreak response than the entire previous decade," UNICEF noted.

While cholera vaccines used to be administered in two doses, the International Coordinating Group (ICG) changed the recommendation to a single dose in Oct. 2022 due to the ongoing shortage.

Vivekanandan called the vaccine shortage "very concerning."

NEW ANTIBIOTIC KILLS DEADLY, DRUG-RESISTANT BACTERIA IN ‘SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGH’

"This is a serious infection, and we must invest financial and other resources to reduce the worldwide burden," he told Fox News Digital.

"International resources need to be committed, and partnerships with pharmaceutical companies need to happen to help produce more vaccines."

Vivekanandan also urged people who are traveling from the U.S. to other countries to review the CDC’s travel guidance and get any required vaccines.

"I would also recommend that people follow good travel medicine guidance, such as drinking bottled water, eating well-cooked food and making sure to have good hand hygiene," he added.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

"As the WHO has stated, we need to have multi-pronged approaches, with a combination of surveillance, water, sanitation and hygiene, social mobilization, treatment, and oral cholera vaccines available for communities at high risk."

On the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website, Vaxchora is listed as a "resolved shortage."

The FDA noted that Emergent Travel Health, manufacturer of the vaccine, announced in May 2021 the temporary discontinuation and distribution of Vaxchora, "due to a significant reduction of international travel caused by the COVID-19 pandemic."

The shortage is listed as having been resolved in May 2023.

Fox News Digital reached out to WHO, the FDA and Emergent requesting comment.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health. 

A 10-year-old girl in Pennsylvania is in dire need of a bone marrow transplant — and her mother is on a mission to find the perfect match.

Lani Walter suffers from a disease called DOCK8 deficiency (dedicator of cytokinesis 8 deficiency), an immunodeficiency syndrome that can cause recurrent, life-threatening infections. 

DOCK8 is very rare, with only 250 people worldwide currently diagnosed, statistics show. The only cure for DOCK8 is a bone marrow transplant — also known as a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT).

YOUNG GIRL SURVIVES CANCER THANKS TO LITTLE SISTER’S LIFESAVING DONATION: 'A PERFECT MATCH'

Ashleigh Walter, a kindergarten teacher, is pleading for people to join the bone marrow/blood stem cell registry to help her daughter find a donor by summer.

"Time is of the essence," she told Fox News Digital.

Walter’s daughter was diagnosed with DOCK8 when she was 7½ years old, the culmination of a long series of symptoms and illnesses.

"Lani’s health issues started at just a couple of months old," Walter told Fox News Digital during an interview. "As a baby, she had full-body eczema from head to toe and continuous ear infections."

At 11 months old, she was diagnosed with severe allergies to eggs, milk, peanuts, tree nuts and many other foods. She's also experienced continuous skin infections and staph infections.

In Jan. 2021, the family was invited to a clinic at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where Walter’s daughter was able to see specialists from immunology, allergy and dermatology together in one appointment.

NEW JERSEY WOMAN RECOVERING AFTER RECEIVING SUCCESSFUL PIG KIDNEY TRANSPLANT

"They all came together to try and figure out what might be going on," Walter said. "Each of the specialties ran their own special bloodwork to see what was going on with Lani."

The results showed some abnormalities in the immune system, and doctors recommended doing genetic testing.

A few months later, the family received the news that Walter’s daughter has two variants of the DOCK8 gene.

"If you have issues on both sides of the gene, that's when you present with the disorder," Walter said. "Testing showed that both my husband and I are recessive carriers to the DOCK8 variant, which we passed down to Lani."

She added, "So that was when we found out that all of the health issues Lani has experienced throughout her entire life were not unrelated."

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, was not involved in Lani Walter’s care but commented on the condition.

"DOCK 8 is a rare immune condition where the bone marrow doesn't make enough immune cells and the immune cells that are made have trouble penetrating into dense tissue, like skin," he told Fox News Digital.

After the diagnosis, Walter’s daughter was invited to visit the National Institute of Health in Maryland, where researchers are studying DOCK8 deficiency. 

"We go there about every six months to see how Lani is doing, and what they recommend as she gets older," Walter said.

The symptoms of DOCK8 deficiency tend to get more severe as the child grows into late adolescence and early adulthood, doctors have said.

Some of the biggest concerns are respiratory difficulties and a higher risk of various cancers, along with the ongoing risk of infections.

FOUR TEXAS RESIDENTS FOREVER CONNECTED BY TWO KIDNEY DONATIONS IN DIFFERENT CITIES: 'SUPERBLY TIMED'

To help manage her condition, Walter’s daughter has been getting weekly intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) infusions, which add human antibodies to help fight off infections.

She also takes daily antibiotics to help prevent pneumonia, uses an inhaler to help her respiratory system and takes other medications to treat different illnesses she experiences as a result of her DOCK8 deficiency.

"That's probably one of the least favorite parts of her day, when I tell her that she needs to take her medicine," Walter said.

Since the only cure for her condition is a bone marrow transplant, "her doctors recommend that Lani has [the] transplant to help cure the DOCK8 before she gets older."

Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurologist and longevity expert at Senolytix, described HSCT as a "transformative reset button" for patients suffering from DOCK8 deficiency.

Osborn is not involved in Lani Walter’s care.

"Imagine your immune system as a computer plagued by a virus," he told Fox News Digital.

"HSCT removes the compromised ‘software’ and installs new, functional cells. For individuals with DOCK8 deficiency — who typically face frequent infections, severe allergies and increased cancer risk — HSCT can mean a dramatic shift toward immunologic normalcy, providing a new lease on life."

Siegel also emphasized the procedure’s importance, calling it a "crucial life-saving procedure."

The average wait for a transplant is about three months, according to Siegel.

"They are very expensive — about $190,000," he said. "Insurance generally covers the procedure, but not the cost of finding a donor."

There is around a 25% chance that a sibling will be a match. In Lani Walter’s case, her 14-year-old sister was not a match.

PENNSYLVANIA MOTHER AND SON BOTH BORN WITH RARE GENETIC DISEASE: 'CLOSER BECAUSE OF THIS'

"The overall chance of finding a match in the world is 1/3 to 2/3," Siegel said.

The organization known as NMDP, formerly the National Marrow Donor Program/Be the Match, maintains a registry of people who are willing to donate. The Walter family found a 90% match on the registry, but the optimal situation would be to find a 100% match.

"There's much less risk with the bone marrow transplant if you can find that perfect match," Walter told Fox News Digital. 

Lani Walter’s doctors recommend that she receives the donation before she starts middle school. Next year, she will start fifth grade.

"Ideally, we would do it before Lani sees significant issues with other organs in her body," said Ashleigh Walter. 

If the family does not find a perfect match, Walter said she will donate to her daughter, as parents are always half-matches.

"Obviously, we would still love for her to be able to find a full match on the donor registry, which is much less of a risk," she said. "But if that's not possible, we can move forward with a half match."

With partial matches, there is a higher risk of "graft versus host disease," which is a complication that occurs when donor bone marrow or stem cells attack the recipient.

"It can cause different issues throughout the body, similar to an organ transplant rejection," Walter said.

If her daughter receives a successful bone marrow transplant, Walter said — she will be cured of DOCK8.

PENNSYLVANIA PARENTS HONOR THEIR DAUGHTER WHO DIED OF A RARE GENETIC DISEASE: 'SWEETEST GIRL IN THE WORLD'

"She won't have an immune deficiency anymore," she said. "She'll adopt the immune system of the donor, and we won't have to worry about any of those increased risks at all."

Walter is hopeful that her daughter — whom she describes as "a little kid at heart" — will soon be healthy and able to return to the activities she loves, including swimming.

"Lani has been on a swim team since kindergarten, and this will be her first summer not doing it," Walter said. 

She also enjoys bike-riding, crafting, and spending time with her friends and pets.

There are millions of potential donors on the bone marrow registry — with more than 300,000 Americans joining just last year — but Walter noted that the likelihood of someone finding a perfect match is very low. 

"The more people who join the registry, the more likely that a perfect match will be there for you," she said.

THE GIRL WHO CAN’T SMILE: HOW A RARE DISORDER BECAME A YOUNG WOMAN'S ‘GREATEST GIFT’

As a neurosurgical trauma surgeon, Osborn of Florida said he can attest to the dire need for blood and bone marrow donors.

"There is a critical shortage of both," he said. "In emergency and surgical settings, the availability of blood products can be the difference between life and death."

It’s "vital" to have diversity in the bone marrow registry, Osborn noted.

"A closely matched donor reduces complications and improves outcomes," he said.

"This emphasizes why everyone should consider joining the registry. We can all manufacture these potentially life-saving blood products, and by donating, we fulfill a crucial societal need."

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

While some have the misconception that donation is difficult, Osborn said that’s not the case.

"Donating bone marrow is a low-risk, outpatient procedure associated with only minor discomfort. It’s a great way to pay it forward."

People can join the bone marrow registry by visiting the NMDP’s website to order a test kit.

"It’s a really simple cheek swab kit that they'll send to your house and then you send it back," Walter said. "You don't have to pay any money for anything."

"The more people that join, the more people who can find their perfect match."

"For conditions like DOCK8 deficiency, a bone marrow transplant can offer a chance at a healthier life," Osborn added.

"Joining the bone marrow registry could be your most profound gift, potentially saving a life with your healthy cells."

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.