United States (US)-based activist Melissa “Melly Mel” Atwell has appealed a High Court decision that she must pay Balwant Singh Hospital and its Chief Executive Officer Dr Madhu Singh a total of GY$35 million for defamation, her lawyer Sanjeev Datadin said Wednesday. Justice Fidela Corbin-Lincoln states in her decision that having considered all the circumstances ...

Santo Domingo.- UNICEF reports that 8% of children under five in the Dominican Republic are overweight, according to data from the 2019 ENHOGAR MICS Survey, highlighted in its 2024 report Status of the Situation of the Rights of Children and Adolescents in the Dominican Republic.

The report also notes the low rates of exclusive breastfeeding, a critical factor for early nutrition and disease prevention. Only 16% of infants are exclusively breastfed for the first six months—17% in urban areas and 13% in rural regions. While this is an improvement from 4.7% in 2014, UNICEF warns it remains insufficient to ensure healthy early development.

Globally, one in ten children—188 million—live with obesity, exposing them to serious, sometimes fatal diseases. In Latin America and the Caribbean, childhood overweight prevalence has risen by at least 10 percentage points since 2000, making the issue particularly urgent in the region.

View the full post Grenada and PAHO strategic service mapping consultation on NOW Grenada.

Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader strongly condemned alleged acts of corruption within the National Health Insurance (SeNaSa), stating that anyone who misappropriates public funds—particularly those for health—should face strict judicial consequences.

Abinader clarified that the government itself requested the ongoing investigation by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, officially authorized in November 2024. In addition, the Chamber of Accounts, the Attorney General’s Office, the Anti-Fraud Office, and the Superintendency of Health and Occupational Risks (SISALRIL) have been conducting audits and investigations into SeNaSa for several months.

The president reiterated his commitment to transparency, emphasizing that the investigations were proactive and not prompted by recent news reports alleging corruption since 2020. Meanwhile, SeNaSa Executive Director Edward Guzmán highlighted the importance of strengthening accountability and ensuring that all procedures adhere to national and international auditing standards, aiming to optimize the institution’s operations.

San Pedro de Macorís.- The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has launched an investigation into the recent fish kill in the Río Soco Wildlife Refuge, located in San Pedro de Macorís. The situation came to light after being reported on social media, prompting Minister Paíno Henríquez to order an immediate response.

Specialized teams were deployed to collect water and fish samples to determine the cause of the incident. The evaluation involved representatives from multiple institutions, including the Provincial Directorate of Environment, the Environmental Quality Directorate, the Dominican Navy, the National Environmental Protection Service (SENPA), and the Provincial Public Health Directorate, among others.

Authorities confirmed that once laboratory analyses are completed, a detailed report will be issued with findings and follow-up actions. The Ministry emphasized its commitment to responding to citizen reports, safeguarding natural resources, and ensuring transparency in clarifying environmental incidents.

Santo Domingo.- The National Health Service (SNS) and the Organizing Committee of the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026 have signed an agreement designating the Public Health Services Network as the official provider of hospital medical services during the event. The agreement was signed by SNS executive director Dr. Mario Lama and Committee president José P. Monegro, in the presence of key health sector officials.

Dr. Lama emphasized that the entire hospital network, including doctors, specialists, support staff, and equipment, will be available to ensure the safety and well-being of athletes and participants. The Luis Eduardo Aybar Health City will serve as the main referral center, supported by the Ney Arias Lora and Darío Contreras trauma hospitals. The agreement also includes mobile dental units, a polyclinic in the Olympic Village, and coordinated medical services in all provinces hosting competitions.

The agreement, notarized by Dr. Lucía Collado, will remain in effect from July 1 to August 30, 2026, with the option of renewal.

Well-known Guyanese artiste, model and businesswoman Lolita “Lola Doll” Callender was shot several times on Saturday night outside her residence in Texas Square, East Ruimveldt, police sources said. The 33-year-old woman was shot eight times to her right leg, hands, face, and neck while she was sitting in her motorcar. Ms Callender was rushed to ...

The Institute for Innovation in Biotechnology and Industry (IIBI) warned that the presence of bacteria resistant to common antibiotics in the country’s main rivers poses a serious health risk.

The institution recommended strengthening environmental monitoring, preventing self-medication, and improving wastewater treatment.

The discovery stems from research on the Ozama, Isabela, Yaque del Norte, and Yaque del Sur rivers, where microorganisms such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, and Acinetobacter were detected

These bacteria, classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as priority pathogens due to their drug resistance, are associated with intestinal, urinary, respiratory, and skin infections.

The study was conducted by a team of young Dominican scientists from IIBI, in collaboration with Intec, Isfodosu, and ISA universities, led by Dr. Edian F. Franco and Professor Luis O. Maroto. 

The research employed whole-genome sequencing and metagenomics techniques, an approach that goes beyond conventional microbiology and allows for identifying not only which bacteria are present, but also their capabilities. This approach facilitates the tracking of contamination routes, the identification of critical discharges, and the guidance of mitigation actions.

When these organisms are dispersed in the environment, the chances of them reaching food, drinking water, or people who use rivers for bathing or work increase. 

In the case of infection, treatments may become more protracted, more expensive, and less effective.

The IIBI, an institution directed by engineer Osmar Olivo, calls on citizens to care for and rescue our water sources, remembering that river water is vital to the health, agricultural production, the economy, and daily life of all Dominicans.

Findings by area

In Ozama and Isabela, both in densely populated urban areas, resistant bacteria linked to domestic and industrial discharges were detected.

In Yaque del Norte, a route was traced from the springs to agricultural and urban areas, verifying how the presence of intestinal bacteria such as E. coli, Klebsiella, and Enterobacter increases.

In Yaque del Sur, sediments revealed DNA from Vibrio cholerae (cholera) and Salmonella (gastroenteritis), which poses a risk if the water is used without treatment.

A problem with daily impact

River water is crucial for cooking, washing, irrigating crops, and sustaining the economy. If antibiotics lose effectiveness, common health problems could turn into serious and costly illnesses.

The WHO warns that the misuse of antibiotics accelerates bacterial resistance. Therefore, the IIBI insists on the urgency of implementing immediate measures that include responsible antibiotic use, adequate wastewater treatment, and strengthening environmental monitoring.

Science and youth training

Along with the research leaders, undergraduate and graduate students from Intec, Isfodosu, and ISA participated. Among them were Irene Zulay Ortiz Confesor, Lázaro M. Acosta Rivera, Argeny Lorenzo Ovando, Camila Del Rosario, Albert Duarte, Víctor V. Calderón, and Roberto Bonnelly, among others.

The project, funded by the MESCYT–FONDOCyT (National Meteorological Service of the Basin of Cyclone and the Basin of Cyclone), has generated international publications, and complete monitoring data from the Yaque River will be released in the coming months.

The Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) has hailed the 24-hour mental health hotline as a vital service for the island’s most vulnerable students, urging the government to further expand youth-focused support amid a sharp rise in calls from young people.

Responding to new statistics from Chief Medical Officer Dr Kenneth George showing that the hotline has handled more than 6 500 calls in just over a year, and that the number of people seeking mental health support has doubled since the pandemic, BUT President Rudy Lovell said the service highlights the growing demand for accessible mental health care.

“Particularly striking is the revelation that 40 per cent of these calls have come from children and teenagers,” Lovell told Barbados TODAY.

“This underscores what teachers and school leaders have long observed, that many of our young people are grappling with immense pressures, often silently. The hotline provides them with a safe, confidential space to reach out for help at any hour of the day or night.”

Lovell’s comments come against the backdrop of violent altercations at several schools over the last academic year, which included not only student-on-student violence, but also incidents of student-on-teacher aggression.

Schools cannot simply focus on academic achievement, as emotional and psychological support is needed to help nurture well-rounded citizens, he insisted.

Lovell said: “As educators, we recognise that academic success is inseparable from emotional and psychological well-being. We therefore applaud this initiative and encourage its continued strengthening, particularly in the areas of youth outreach, school partnerships, and awareness campaigns that destigmatise mental health challenges.

“The Barbados Union of Teachers pledges its support in working alongside health professionals, families, and communities to ensure that every child knows help is available and that no student feels alone in moments of crisis.” (SB)

The post BUT backs hotline in urgent call for youth mental health support appeared first on Barbados Today.

Santo Domingo.- The Institute for Innovation in Biotechnology and Industry (IIBI) has warned that antibiotic-resistant bacteria found in the Dominican Republic’s main rivers pose a serious threat to public health. The institute urges stronger environmental monitoring, improved wastewater treatment, and responsible use of antibiotics to mitigate risks.

Research conducted on the Ozama, Isabela, Yaque del Norte, and Yaque del Sur rivers detected bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, and Acinetobacter. These microorganisms, classified by the WHO as priority pathogens due to their drug resistance, are linked to intestinal, urinary, respiratory, and skin infections. The study, led by Dr. Edian F. Franco and Professor Luis O. Maroto, used whole-genome sequencing and metagenomics to identify bacterial presence and capabilities, allowing researchers to trace contamination sources and inform mitigation strategies.

Key findings revealed that Ozama and Isabela rivers, in densely populated urban areas, showed contamination from domestic and industrial discharges. Yaque del Norte exhibited rising intestinal bacteria levels along its course through agricultural and urban zones. In Yaque del Sur, sediment samples contained DNA from Vibrio cholerae and Salmonella, posing a risk if water is used untreated.

The IIBI stressed that river water is vital for cooking, washing, irrigation, and the economy, and that the spread of resistant bacteria could make common infections more severe, expensive, and difficult to treat. The research, conducted with students from INTEC, ISFODOSU, and ISA and funded by MESCYT–FONDOCyT, has already produced international publications, with further monitoring results forthcoming.