The St George’s Health Centre will reopen on Monday, 27 November 2023

View the full post Reopening of St George’s Health Centre on NOW Grenada.

For the 2010-21 period, the average annual food import bill in Grenada stood at US$77 million

View the full post Policy changes critical to reduce Caribbean food import bill on NOW Grenada.

President Irfaan Ali on Monday urged Guyana’s private sector to take advantage of business opportunities with European companies that are participating in the European Union’s (EU) first ever trade mission here, even as he urged Europe to “reset” its business relations with this South American country Addressing the opening of the mission’s two-day engagement here, ...

Santo Domingo.- Daniel Rivera, the Minister of Public Health, issued a warning about the health risks associated with contaminated water following recent floods. He advised immediate measures to prevent infections, diarrhea, and leptospirosis. The public is urged to avoid contact with dirty water, thoroughly cook food, boil water, and wash hands to prevent illnesses commonly seen after such natural events.

The ministry plans to distribute medicines through the Civil Defense and neighborhood associations to those who have been in contact with contaminated water. Rivera emphasized the importance of community cooperation in boiling water, cooking food, washing hands, and avoiding exposure to contaminated open water, assuring that those who follow these guidelines will receive necessary medications.

Additionally, Rivera highlighted the risk of dengue resurgence post-floods. He stated that while dengue is currently under control, the public should remain vigilant in eliminating mosquito breeding sites to prevent its return. The minister shared these insights while speaking to the press at the National Palace.

When the Ministry of Health and Wellness continues its fogging programme this week, emphasis will be on St George and St Michael.

On Monday, November 20, the team from the Vector Control Unit will make its first stop in St George where fogging will occur at Waverley Cot Road, Ellerton Gardens, Waverley Cot and the environs.

A return to that parish on Tuesday November 21, will see fogging at Ellerton Road, Walker Road, Ellerton, Blenman Road, Sargeant Road and the environs.

The following day, Wednesday, November 22, the St George districts of Flat Rock, Flat Rock Tenantry, Locust Hall #1, Mayfield Road, and environs will be sprayed.

Fogging moves to St Michael on Thursday, November 23. Areas to be sprayed are: Jackmans, Lears Road, Skeete’s Road, Tamarind Road, Avocado Avenue, Cherry Avenue, Lower Estate Heights, Friendship, Lears Drive, Clarke’s Road and the environs.

The fogging programme culminates on Friday, November 24, in the St Michael districts of Stanmore Crescent, Stanmore Terrace, Ellerslie School Road, Goddard’s Road, Golden Acres, and the environs.

Fogging of districts will run from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., each day. Householders are asked to assist in the control of the aedes aegypti mosquito by opening all windows and doors to allow the fog to enter. Persons with respiratory problems are asked to protect themselves from inhaling the spray.

Pedestrians and motorists should proceed with caution when encountering fogging operations on the street and parents are instructed to prohibit children from playing in the fog or running behind the fogging machine.

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 affected communities as soon as possible.

(PR)

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More than 13% of homes in the country lack piped drinking water, most of which is not connected to sanitary sewage networks. In the most extreme degrees, defecation is still practiced in the Dominican Republic without properly disposing of it. It can become a source of diarrhea outbreaks, including acute cholera or amoeba. Both can lead to death, and the watercourses that cross thousands of places receive all kinds of waste from their inhabitants. Rivers, streams, and creeks have become the final destination of filth that can reach the depositaries’ digestive tracts or those who live downstream of the waterways.

In the Dominican countryside, most of the population deserves a healthy and decent life, which would only be possible by providing low-cost rural aqueducts. Some successful pilot schemes should give way to a more far-reaching sanitation program. The health and lives of many people are at stake.

In a document, he expressed that the operations and interventions have impacted 5,670 people, with the application of vaccines, 4,457, kit with liquid and paste chlorine to purify water, placement of oral rehydration serum, and prevention. He said that the laboratory results of the Bahoruco and La Palmita rivers showed positive results for fecal coliforms, E. coli, and pseudomonas but negative for vibrio cholera. “However, we recommend not to consume these waters given the contamination.”

He assures that the health authorities “approach this situation with the utmost seriousness. Our medical teams are on the ground, attending to each case with the objective of providing the appropriate treatment to preserve the lives of patients.”

Dr. Nelson Rodriguez Monegro
Refused to admit
Since Saturday 4, the Ministry of Health has been notified by the Provincial Directorate about the appearance of this outbreak but has insisted that it was amebao or shigelas. The population blamed Inapa for the problem due to carelessness with the collapsed aqueduct.

The doctor had already said.
What is happening is an outbreak of cholera, given that the amoeba and echerichacolis do not have those characteristics, said Nelson Rodriguez Monegro, former director of the National Health Service (SNS), before the report.

“It is worrying and calls attention to the attitude of the authorities, which is apparently their norm, in the face of an epidemic outbreak. At the time, the same thing happened with dengue,” he said.

He recalled that they began by denying the increase in the number of epidemic cases, then that “everything was under control, that the cases are decreasing, and the opposite is true. He warned that these diseases have different characteristics than cholera. He explained that the parasitosis has a fever, gas, abdominal pain, willful desire to evacuate, pain in the hypogastrium, semi-solid evacuations with mucus, and may be accompanied by blood.

People with cholera present vomiting without nausea, abundant watery evacuations similar to rice water, and there is no abdominal pain. They may have muscle cramps due to loss of electrolytes.

“They are different pictures, and the diagnosis is made with laboratory tests. Without a doubt, it is cholera.”

The 15-nation Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has formally agreed to back Saudi Arabia’s bid to host Expo 2030 in Riyadh and the establishment of an international water organisation,  in exchange for support in a range of areas including combatting climate change and boosting trade, investment and food security, according to a joint statement. The leaders declared ...

Barahona.- The ongoing outbreak of diarrheal illness in the La Ciénaga municipality and other communities in the Barahona province of the Dominican Republic may be exacerbated by the heavy rains caused by a potential tropical cyclone. The Minister of Public Health, Daniel Rivera, has expressed concerns about the impact of the rains on the already dire situation.

Rivera stated that they are aware that the rains could worsen the outbreak, and they have been holding meetings with members of neighborhood associations in the affected area to warn them against consuming water directly from rivers. He urged the population in Barahona to consume only water provided by the National Institute of Drinking Water and Sewage (Inapa) and advised boiling water before consumption and ensuring thorough cooking of food to prevent further casualties.

The minister assured that health teams are continuing to support the affected communities, and he announced that they would provide an update on the total number of deaths from the outbreak and other relevant details at noon on Friday.

Meanwhile, the potential tropical cyclone has brought heavy rains to various locations in the Barahona province, which is under a yellow alert, along with seven other provinces in the Southern region of the Dominican Republic. Carlos Confidente, Regional Director of Civil Defense, reported that evacuations have not been necessary so far, but the authorities are monitoring the situation closely. They have been clearing ravines to prevent flooding and providing guidance to residents to prepare for possible emergencies.

Santo Domingo.- The Ministry of Health in the Dominican Republic has issued a call to action in response to the anticipated heavy rains expected over the coming weekend. They are urging the population to take proactive measures to mitigate potential health risks associated with inclement weather. The Ministry has activated its Prevention and Rapid Response Plan and is coordinating efforts to address potential health hazards linked to heavy rainfall.

During periods of intense rainfall, the country typically experiences a surge in epidemic outbreaks of diseases, including dengue, malaria, chikungunya, acute respiratory infections, leptospirosis, acute diarrheal diseases, and gastrointestinal issues. To counter these threats, the Ministry is advocating for several precautionary measures to be taken.

Firstly, they recommend chlorinating drinking water to ensure its safety. Additionally, they advise checking the expiration dates of food items, especially canned goods, and thoroughly washing fruits and vegetables before consumption. Cooking food thoroughly is also emphasized.

The Ministry encourages residents to have an adequate supply of medications on hand, particularly for individuals with chronic illnesses or those undergoing treatment. People should be cautious around stagnant water, mud, or flooded areas, as these can increase the risk of contracting leptospirosis.

In terms of general safety, it’s advised to avoid touching electrical cables and wet walls. Homes should be secured, including doors, windows, ceilings, and any objects in the vicinity that could pose a danger. Special attention should be given to protecting vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities or immunosuppressed conditions.

This proactive stance comes as the director of the National Meteorological Office (Onamet), Gloria Ceballos, reports that an atmospheric phenomenon approaching the country has a 60% probability of developing into a tropical depression or cyclone. The climatic event is expected to affect border regions, provinces in the southwest, and Santo Domingo, starting on Friday. Consequently, the COE Emergency Operations Center has placed 14 provinces on alert, heightening preparedness efforts.