Santo Domingo.- Sargassum arriving on Caribbean islands possesses high levels of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, and antiviral properties, paving the way for the development of new pharmaceutical and cosmetic products derived from this macroalgae. Idania Rodeiro Guerra, Scientific Vice Director of the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICIMAR) of the Cuban Environment Agency, emphasized this during her keynote lecture titled “Obtaining Bioactive Molecules from Plants and Seaweed: Principles and Case Studies,” delivered as part of her exchange visit to the Technological Institute of Santo Domingo (INTEC).

Rodeiro highlighted that sargassum’s hydroalcoholic extract demonstrates antiherpetic activity by inhibiting the replication of herpes viruses HSV-1 and HSV-2. This discovery paves the way for the development of drugs for oral consumption or topical application, offering a novel alternative for utilizing sargassum resources.

These findings were published in an article by Rodeiro and her team in the renowned scientific journal “Journal of Applied Phycology,” published by Springer-Nature.

Furthermore, Rodeiro presented advancements from studies conducted within the Thalassia project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment (CITMA) in Cuba.

The conference was organized by the Sargasso Interdisciplinary Research Group, led by INTEC research professor Ulises Jáuregui-Haza, who also coordinates the Doctorate in Environmental Sciences at INTEC. The event saw participation from specialists, professors, researchers, and students from the university.

INTEC has been at the forefront of sargassum research, with projects such as the chemical characterization of sargassum found on Dominican Republic beaches, the production and evaluation of sargassum-activated carbon for water decontamination, and the development of organic liquid bio-fertilizers from sargassum, which have shown promising results in the banana industry.

Additionally, an engineering team is working on the Quisqueya Sat project, aimed at developing the first Dominican satellite equipped with a high-resolution camera system. This satellite will forecast the arrival date, location, and volume of sargassum on Caribbean beaches each season, facilitating timely collection and mitigating its impact on tourism in the country and the region.

Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd on Monday confirmed that government has given approval to a private company to hire health care workers, and said that the company could now do so from any other country not just Bangladesh. “They have amended that…It can be Latin America and the Caribbean, it could be Asia. It is ...

The team from the Vector Control Unit will fog areas in St Michael, for the entire week, starting on Monday, March 25, with Erdiston Drive, Sunset Drive, Sunrise Drive, Pine Gardens, Elizabeth Drive, Pine Hill Road, Cedar Hill Road, and surrounding communities.

The following day, Tuesday, March 26, the Unit will visit Lascelles Terrace, Princess Royal Avenue, Pine Plantation Road, and neighbouring districts.

It will then go into Barclays Terrace, Wildey Avenue Nos.1 to 8, Meadow Road, Wharfdale Road, Golden Rock Road, and Newton Crescent, on Wednesday, March 27.

The fogging exercise for the week will conclude on Thursday, March 28, when the Unit sprays Smith Avenue, Main Port Road, Stanley Terrace, Golden Rock Road, and Pine East West Road.

Fogging takes place from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. daily. Householders are reminded to open their windows and doors to allow the spray to enter. Children should not be allowed to play in the fog.

Members of the public are advised that the completion of scheduled fogging activities may be affected by events beyond the Unit’s control. In such circumstances, the Unit will return to communities affected in the soonest possible time.

The post Fogging schedule for March 25 – 28 appeared first on Barbados Today.

March 21 is recognised as World Down Syndrome Day as global attention is drawn to the many children and adults who have the condition caused by triplication of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.

Across various social media, Barbadians from every walk of life were ‘rocking their socks’ in the public awareness campaign dubbed Rock Your Socks.

The colourful show of support for the Down syndrome community makes for compelling images, with the usual clicks and likes. But forgive those among us who harbour a measure of cynicism about this show.

From people working in government offices and private sector entities, from supermarkets to law enforcement offices – the colourful socks were the trend for the day.

We do not desire to diminish in any way the nobility of the cause, for any effort that brings attention to the challenges of those in our community who are marginalised, is a good thing.

The wearing of the colourful socks has blossomed into a very commercialised event, with street vendors and store owners stocking up for the expected boost in sales of the mix-matched socks.

One cannot blame them; this is what business is about. Commercialisation is what maintains Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Old Year’s Night as such valued periods on our calendars.

President of the Barbados Down Syndrome Association (BDSA) Asha Alleyne-Renwick assures that the sales from vendors and merchants ahead of World Down Syndrome Day represent an important source of funding for the BDSA. 

Mrs Alleyne-Renwick, a teacher, parent of a child with Down syndrome and respected advocate for those with the condition, has been a vocal cheerleader for this community. While encouraged by the growing support for the day and the Rock Your Socks campaign, Mrs Alleyne-Renwick too wants the businesses that benefit from the boost in sock sales to ensure that some of those funds are channelled to the BDSA.

The advocate appealed: “We are not at that stage yet, and we understand that is a situation that does take time . . . . In the meantime, we are here raising our funds every year for the Rock Your Socks campaign. So, when you see vendors, merchants and individuals selling socks, we appeal to them to give back to the association.”

We too join in that call. Our urging also is to not simply view the day to publish the photographs and soothe our conscience that we have done our social good for the month or the year.

As the BDSA president pointed out: “While it is financially beneficial to some to sell socks, they must realise that they’re only selling socks because there are individuals with Down syndrome living among them and they do have a social and a moral responsibility to give back to the association.”

The cause of the Down syndrome community in Barbados is representative of the challenges confronted by the many disabled and special needs persons among us.

According to the last census data, there are approximately 11 546 Barbadians living with some form of disability. Though there are many examples of those from the disabled community who have reached prominent heights in Barbados, such as former President of the Senate Kerryann Ifill, blind attorney-at-law Janeil Odle, and current Government Senator Andwele Boyce, there are thousands of others who are not so privileged.

As Senator Boyce wrote in a 2021 article published in Barbados TODAY, “Living with any kind of disability in a country like Barbados, where multiple barriers to full inclusion remain, can come with a myriad of challenges, a lack of social and legislative recognition, which necessitate the call for accommodations and adaptation.”

Disabled people in Barbados also require and should demand all the benefits afforded to other Barbadians. They want job opportunities, equal access to housing, health care services, education, public transportation and the full range of services that are provided to others.

The disabled, including those with Down syndrome, do not want tokenism or demonstrations of support that are meant to assuage the consciences of others. They want and deserve full inclusion.

The post Rock your support every day appeared first on Barbados Today.

Santo Domingo.- The Minister of Public Health, Dr. Víctor Atallah, emphasized that the country possesses an advantageous position to combat dengue effectively, provided all sectors unite with a shared vision and coordinated preventive measures.

During a meeting to unveil the National Plan for Dengue to various institutions encompassing public, private, and civil society sectors, attended by members of the Health Cabinet and the COE, Dr. Atallah underscored the potential to mitigate the negative impact of dengue in the country through timely preventive actions.

“While the dengue situation in the region presents challenges, our nation stands in a favorable position, allowing each of us to play a crucial role in finding solutions. With shared responsibilities and ensured resource availability, we can address any situation,” he emphasized.

Dr. Atallah stressed the importance of community integration, involving civil society, the private sector, the Medical College, academic institutions, and government collaboration to combat dengue collectively.

“It’s imperative for the Ministry to not tackle dengue alone. We all share a responsibility and commitment to our nation. Community integration through various avenues like academia, schools, churches, community leadership, and family involvement is crucial for dengue prevention through education, waste management, and support from international organizations such as PAHO, USAID, among others,” he added.

The “National Plan for Dengue” is structured around two main programmatic lines: social interventions (debris removal, fumigation) and prompt care, emphasizing health personnel training, academia integration, and care protocol updates.

Dr. Eladio Pérez, Vice Minister of Collective Health, highlighted the importance of providing support and guidance to the population for prevention and early detection to prevent severe cases and ensure effective care protocols.

PAHO’s representative in the country, Dr. Alba María Ropero, affirmed the organization’s commitment to providing comprehensive support for dengue management, focusing on intersectoral coordination, resource advocacy, capacity building, and clinical management.

Erdwin Robert Olivares, Director of Operations of the Emergency Operations Center (COE), reiterated the entity’s dedication to coordinating social intervention efforts with other organizations.

Representatives from various sectors including the Catholic Church, Dominican Council of Evangelical Unity (CODUE), Ministry of Agriculture, Association of Private Clinics (ANDECLIP), and others expressed their support for the strategy and emphasized the need for continuous preventive actions.

Notable attendees included Santiago Hazin, director of SENASA, Dr. Edinson Feliz, director of the Metropolitan Health Service, Vice Ministers of Health José Antonio Matos and Miguel Rodríguez Viñas, alongside other officials and managers.

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Santo Domingo.- First Lady Raquel Arbaje, along with Carlos Bonilla, Minister of Housing and Buildings (MIVED), and Mario Lama, Director of the National Health Service, unveiled the new “Uniendo Voluntades Oncopediatric Pavilion” at the Rosa Emilia Tavarez National Cancer Institute (INCART).

This facility, equipped with cutting-edge medical technology for pediatric and adolescent cancer treatment, spans 2,273 square meters and includes 41 hospital beds, two operating rooms, an anesthesiology room, an intensive care unit, six pediatric offices, a nursing station, and a day hospital.

Arbaje emphasized that the pavilion not only aims to provide high-level therapeutic care and a pleasant physical environment for children, adolescents, and young adults but also prioritizes the human aspect of the project.

For the first time, the Uniendo Voluntades Oncopediatric Pavilion will offer specialized care to adolescents and young people up to 24 years old, with an exclusive protocol tailored to their needs.

Minister Carlos Bonilla expressed appreciation for the First Lady’s initiative in securing funding for the construction and equipment of the pavilion, highlighting her commitment to improving the quality of life for vulnerable Dominicans. He thanked her for involving MIVED in the project, which adhered to the highest national and international health standards.

Mario Lama, Director of the National Health Service (SNS), underscored the significance of the pavilion in providing timely and quality care to children affected by cancer, thanks to President Luis Abinader’s commitment to making it a reality. He commended the collaborative efforts of the First Lady and MIVED in achieving this milestone.

The new pavilion, a product of the Uniendo Voluntades initiative, aims to expand specialized services for children with cancer while also humanizing the therapeutic process and alleviating the emotional burden on patients and their families.

Designed by MIVED, the pavilion meets national and international standards that prioritize spaces conducive to the emotional well-being of pediatric patients.

Through her “Uniendo Voluntades” initiative, the First Lady secured non-refundable financial contributions for the construction and acquisition of equipment, facilitated by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI).

Santo Domingo.- The Ministry of Public Health (MSP) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) jointly announced the establishment of a toxicological center in the country on Monday. The primary objective of this center is to provide specialized assistance and management for cases of poisoning.

According to a statement released by Public Health, the center will offer information, guidance, and specialized care for diagnosing and treating cases of poisoning. Additionally, it will conduct toxicological laboratory tests, develop programs for poisoning prevention and toxicovigilance, promote research on poisoning prevention and management, and manage mass poisonings by alerting health authorities for prompt decision-making and effective health responses in incidents involving chemical substances.

To initiate this initiative, an inter-institutional commission was formed by the Ministry of Public Health in collaboration with PAHO advisors. This commission analyzed the feasibility of implementing the center.

Health Minister Víctor Atallah met with PAHO representative Alba María Ropero to validate specific details for the immediate commencement of installation work. As part of the preparation process, visits were conducted to pre-selected institutions to assess their physical, technological, and personnel capabilities. This assessment aimed to develop a roadmap and define the stages for the center’s development.

Minister Atallah described the establishment of a poison center as an unprecedented milestone for the country. He emphasized the necessity of having tools to mitigate health damage resulting from various causes, including improper handling of chemicals and food.

Ropero Álvarez underscored the significance of the initiative in reducing poisoning incidents. He noted that toxicological centers have been established across Latin America and the Caribbean to address similar situations of exposure to chemical substances. While a previous attempt was made in the Dominican Republic in 2009, Ropero Álvarez expressed confidence that the current endeavor would succeed.

Reduce the amount of sodium you consume by cooking with local herbs and spices instead of salt

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Belgium.- As part of the International Women’s Day commemoration activities, the Dominican Embassy in Belgium and Luxembourg organized two special discussions on mental health tailored for the Dominican diaspora in these regions. These sessions were led by renowned Dominican psychiatrist and therapist, Alexandra Híchez.

Both events, held over the weekend of March 16-17, at the Beford Hotel in Brussels and the Hotel Royal in Luxembourg, focused on addressing the mental health challenges and concerns faced by the Dominican diaspora. The aim was to raise awareness about the importance of mental well-being for Dominican migrants residing in Brussels and Luxembourg, providing them with a platform to share their experiences and reflections on the topic.

During her presentations, Dr. Híchez provided valuable insights and practical advice to enhance emotional and psychological well-being, especially in the context of migration. She also discussed significant topics such as women’s empowerment and their importance in contemporary society, along with other psychosocial risk factors.

The events commenced with welcoming remarks from Ambassador Iván Ogando Lora, who expressed gratitude to all participants and Dr. Híchez for her enthusiastic commitment to conducting these discussions. Ambassador Ogando Lora emphasized the significance of addressing mental health issues within migrant communities, particularly among women, whose migration and adaptation to a new country often entail significant emotional and psychological challenges.

He underscored that these discussions are part of the ongoing commitment of the mission to support the hardworking Dominican community in Belgium and Luxembourg, particularly in crucial areas like mental health, which contribute to strengthening unity and solidarity.

These activities were made possible with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic (MIREX) and Air Europa. Special acknowledgment is extended to Mrs. Gloria Paniagua, Veridania Mercedes, and Mórela Segura of the Bedford Hotel for their cooperation in facilitating the events.