Speaking Saturday at Ross University’s Obesity Symposium at The Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, Chief Medical Officer Dr Kenneth George said considering the mounting issues of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and illnesses associated with unhealthy lifestyles, commercial players’ rights must not be permitted to jeopardise the nation’s health.

“Historic, cultural, and commercial issues have occasionally caused dissension between the health sector on one hand, and the commercial sector on the other hand. While this is regrettable, we must ensure that the work that is of public health interest is not sacrificed at the altar of profits,” he said.

“In this context, let me clearly state, the Ministry of Health is opposed to the overt and covert marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children. Whether it be through the sponsorship of social events, or school sports. We continue to advocate for and work towards a commercial sector that contributes not only to financial growth of the economy, but also to its health and wellness.”

Dr George further noted that in 2022, there were an estimated 2.5 billion overweight adults worldwide; 890 million of whom were people living with obesity, and there were 400 million children who were overweight. These figures, in Dr George’s view, pale in comparison to the starling statistics facing the region, and Barbados in particular.

“We are aware of the alarming statistics and modelling projections for obesity in the region of CARICOM. More than 35 per cent in the school age population are either overweight or obese, and upwards to 60 per cent of the adult population being overweight and or obese. Again, I say the time for action is now,” he said.

“In Barbados, 74.2 per cent of our women, and 57.5 per cent of our men are overweight based on a Health of the Nation study. Alarmingly, the highest percentage of morbid obesity was seen in adults of the 25-44 age group.Obesity is not just a cosmetic concern, it is a medical and public health challenge of the 21st century that increases the risk of ill-health and death. It is imperative to create a society that facilitates decisions and implementation of policies that protect health and wellness.”

Back in 2022, the then Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr Sonia Browne, said some policy decisions would have to be taken to address the marketing of unhealthy products to children, especially given the high rate of childhood obesity.

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Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic has secured the top position in global rankings for mental well-being, as revealed in a “concerning” global report examining emotional recovery post the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mental well-being, defined as an individual’s capacity to navigate life’s normal stresses and adversities while contributing productively to society, has seen a halt in decline, but a complete recovery to pre-pandemic levels is yet to be realized.

Detailed findings from the report indicate that the Dominican Republic achieved a score of 91 out of 100 points on the Mental Health Quotient (MHQ), attributed to its relaxed and straightforward lifestyle. The country also scored high in cleanliness and safety among Caribbean nations.

Researchers from the U.S.-based think tank Sapien Labs noted a unique trend: the most economically challenged countries in Africa and Latin America scored highest, while wealthier nations recorded lower scores, contrary to previous beliefs linking wealth to well-being. Factors such as excessive cell phone use, fast-food consumption, and erosion of friendships were associated with these scores.

The top 10 countries in mental well-being include the Dominican Republic, followed by Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Panama, Malaysia, Nigeria, Venezuela, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Uruguay.

The study emphasizes that younger individuals exhibited a trend of poorer mental well-being compared to other age groups.

On the lower end of the scale, countries such as Tajikistan, Brazil, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Uzbekistan ranked at the bottom, experiencing declines in mood and self-esteem.

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Public Health issued a new epidemiological alert for dengue on Monday, responding to an uptick in cases across the Americas region. In 2023, the region experienced its most severe year for the disease, with over 4.5 million people affected and 2,340 deaths.

Despite a sustained decline in dengue cases in the country over the last 22 weeks, there is concern that the situation could change in 2024 due to significant global climate changes. Consequently, the ministry declared an epidemiological alert, recommending the implementation of strategies to control the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which reduces the transmission of the dengue virus, and the reinforcement of epidemiological surveillance.

The alert also calls for the establishment of a rapid response mechanism and the assurance of quality care for individuals with dengue. This decision comes as 3,889 suspected cases of dengue were reported in the first five weeks of the year.

Dengue incidence typically rises during the summer months, coinciding with the most humid season in the Caribbean. This favorable environment facilitates the proliferation of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which also carries other diseases such as chikungunya and Zika.

Recalling the epidemic outbreak of dengue in the Dominican Republic last year, which saw 27,972 confirmed cases and 34 deaths, the ministry is taking proactive measures to address the potential risks in the current year.

Source: EFE

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Santo Domingo.- The Minister of Public Health, Víctor Atallah, held a meeting with Alba María Ropero Álvarez, the representative of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) for the Dominican Republic. The purpose of this meeting was to coordinate and formulate a strategic plan for the prevention and control of dengue.

This meeting is part of the ongoing collaborative efforts between both entities, where plans are systematically developed to combat and prevent the spread of the disease within the Dominican Republic.

The collaboration agreement stems from a request by the Ministry of Health to the World Health Organization (WHO), seeking support from this international entity in the prevention and control of dengue—a vector-borne disease that has significantly impacted the region.

In response, both the Ministry of Health and PAHO recognized the urgency of establishing a collective health program management group, focusing on the most affected provinces. This group will be responsible for continuous monitoring and evaluation of the action plan to eliminate dengue vectors.

PAHO has also committed to providing technical cooperation support to enhance services, including training personnel at all levels of care, including the private sector. This involves the visit of international experts in the Management of Arbovirosis Clinic (RENACAR), with an official launch scheduled for March 2024.

Furthermore, the agreement includes the development and launch of an entomological survey application, educational campaigns in schools, community dialogues, and empowerment initiatives through various educational and communication programs.

The Vice Minister of Collective Health, Eladio Pérez, and the Director of Prevention and Promotion, Dr. Miguel Brujan, were also present at the meeting. They emphasized the need for regional epidemiological training workshops to address the new dengue surveillance protocol, considering that the disease’s behavior, influenced by climatic factors, deviates from regular epidemiological patterns.

Minister Atallah reaffirmed the commitment to the health and well-being of all Dominicans and expressed gratitude to PAHO/WHO for its ongoing support in these critical initiatives. The coordinated efforts aim for an effective and sustained response against dengue.

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