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.

Santo Domingo.- The second edition of the International Forum on Quality and Safety in Health will take place on Wednesday, September 17, at the Hotel Aloft Santo Domingo, bringing together specialists from the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Colombia, and Chile to discuss the challenges of modern medicine and strategies to strengthen more humane, safe, and sustainable healthcare systems.

The event will feature keynote presentations on topics such as digital transformation, artificial intelligence, critical care management, innovation in healthcare, and the importance of human talent in driving excellence. Speakers include Dr. Gastón Gabin of CEMDOE, Dr. Maril Núñez, Cleber Sampaio from Brazil, Dr. Carlos Kerguelen from Colombia, Dr. Alejandro Mauro from Chile, and Dr. Francisco Méndez of CEDIMAT.

With this initiative, CEMDOE reaffirms its commitment to promoting innovation, safety, and quality in healthcare, positioning the Dominican Republic as part of the global dialogue on medical transformation and excellence in patient care.

Stating that “difficult conversations can save lives”, the head of a youth-led mental health advocacy group has urged young Caribbean advocates to embrace open dialogue and shared responsibility in tackling suicide prevention.

Dr David Johnson, president of Let’s Unpack It, was speaking at Suicide Prevention: A Conversation with Caribbean Youth, a youth-focused forum held ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10.

The event brought together young people from across the region to confront stigma, share experiences and push for systemic change.

“In a region where suicide is still treated as a taboo topic, where young people are facing a myriad number of challenges and stressors that heighten their risk, and where we’re still lagging behind on the implementation of national suicide prevention strategies, your presence here signals that you care,” Johnson told participants gathered at the Barbados office of the Pan American Health Organisation.

He urged attendees not to treat the conversation as a one-off observance, but as a catalyst for action.

“These spaces are not just about marking a day,” he said. “They’re about reevaluating our approach, changing the narrative around suicide, and mobilising the systemic change that will make it easier for young people to access life-saving care and support.”

Johnson emphasised that suicide prevention is not solely the responsibility of governments or health professionals.

“Let us embrace it as a moral responsibility that falls on all of us,” Johnson said. “It starts with how we show up for each other, how we listen, how we notice changes, and how we respond when someone is hurting.”

He urged young people to build strong communities of support and not shy away from uncomfortable moments. “Difficult conversations can save lives,” he said.

Johnson also called on Caribbean governments to strengthen their efforts by adopting evidence-based strategies grounded in the World Health Organisation’s Live Life approach – strategies that empower young people to claim their right to mental health and access high-quality care without fear or stigma. (SB)

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SADO and its partners will commence their awareness campaign on 1 September 2025, culminating on 1 November 2025, with the annual walk from Hermitage to Progress Park

View the full post SADO launches 2025 Cancer Awareness Campaign on NOW Grenada.

Health authorities on Monday intensified calls for vigilance in Barbados amid regional outbreaks of chikungunya and new Oropouche virus cases, warning that the country’s tropical conditions leave it vulnerable despite no current outbreaks here.

The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) on Friday called for reinforcement of surveillance, clinical management, and vector control to tackle these outbreaks across the Americas. PAHO cautioned that the simultaneous presence of these and other arboviruses increases the risk of outbreaks, severe complications, and fatalities among vulnerable populations.

While Barbadian health officials are assuring the country that there is no outbreak of any of these or other viral diseases, the Ministry of Health says Zika, chikungunya, dengue, and Oropouche are of particular concern.

 “The diseases of concern to the ministry are Zika, chikungunya, and Oropouche, in addition to dengue fever. We recently reported to PAHO regarding cases of chikungunya in Barbados. We had 14 confirmed cases in 2024, and so far this year, we have had six confirmed cases,” Chief Medical Officer Dr Kenneth George told Barbados TODAY.

Dr George said that although chikungunya is transmitted via the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito and its symptoms are similar to those of dengue fever, there is a difference in the outcome.

The chief medical officer explained that chikungunya has a longer effect that persists for months after the infection has cleared.

The government’s top public health adviser pointed out that the levels of chikungunya remain low, with only six cases reported this year. He said the health ministry would carry out chikungunya and Zika screening if tests for dengue fever prove negative. 

“If we are receiving negative dengue cases, and persons are presenting with symptoms of mosquito-borne illness, we then do a wider screen for Zika, chikungunya and other viral agents,” he explained.

Dr George added: “We have not had any reported cases of Zika for several years. Remember, Zika is the infection that presents similarly to dengue, but is a cause for concern because it can affect pregnant women, leading to some form of birth defect. But there are no cases of Zika in Barbados for the past five years.”

Noting that the country experiences intermittent cases of chikungunya, he said the Ministry of Health will continue to conduct tests.

“We know that the vector Aedes aegypti mosquito is present … in Barbados,” the chief medical officer said. “Dengue is endemic in Barbados. We have always had dengue fever, but there is no outbreak of dengue on island at the moment.”

But, Dr George cautioned residents against becoming complacent: “Barbadians still need to play their part, not only in protecting themselves but in ensuring that breeding areas close to their properties are eliminated.”

On the Oropouche virus, which can be transmitted by sand flies, the top public health expert revealed that Barbados has not had any new cases for over a year and a half. But Barbadians can have confidence in the country’s surveillance system, he said.

“We have a strong surveillance system in Barbados that captures prevailing illnesses within the population. Our data suggests there is no Oropouche, so I have to believe it,” he declared.

According to a new epidemiological alert from PAHO, the largest chikungunya outbreaks have been concentrated in South America—particularly Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay—and in parts of the Caribbean. These are associated with the Asian and East/Central/South African (ECSA) genotypes, marking a shift in the pattern observed since 2014. Cases reported in the Indian Ocean region, Europe, and Asia also raise the risk of reintroduction and further spread into new areas with conditions conducive to transmission.

PAHO reports that as of August 9, 14 countries in the region reported a total of 212 029 suspected chikungunya cases and 110 deaths, with more than 97 per cent occurring in South America.

 In comparison, 2024 saw 431 417 reported cases and 245 deaths—indicating a decline this year, though localised outbreaks remain active.

In the first seven months of the year, over 12 700 confirmed Oropouche cases have been reported in 11 countries, including indigenous cases in Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela which were not attributed to travellers.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

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The Metropolitan Hospital of Santiago (HOMS) and the Centers for Diagnostics, Advanced Medicine, and Telemedicine (Cedimat) made history by introducing the MagDI System for bariatric surgery against obesity. It is a milestone in bariatric and metabolic surgery in the Dominican Republic.

HOMS, together with its Digestive, Bariatric, and Precision Surgery Institute, and in collaboration with Jenner Dominicana, performed the first Magnetic Bariatric Surgery in the Dominican Republic, Central America, and the Caribbean, consolidating its position as a regional benchmark in surgical innovation.

For the first time

Magnetic bariatric surgery, performed at Homs and Cedimat, is a hybrid procedure that creates a partial bypass of the small intestine (between the duodenum and ileum) by placing a magnet endoscopically in the duodenum and another laparoscopically in the ileum.

These magnets attract each other to form an anastomosis, which allows for a faster recovery with less pain, no blood loss, and a lower risk.

In Santiago, the procedure was attended by Rafael Sánchez Español, General Director and bariatric surgeon; Héctor Sánchez Navarro, Head of Robotic and Bariatric Surgery; and James Hamilton, Director of Innovation and Quality.

This team had the honor of welcoming Michel Gagner, a Canadian pioneer in bariatric surgery and creator of the MagDI technique used in this procedure. Also present were Brígida Navarro, gastroenterologist and director of the Center for Digestive Studies, and Luis Peralta.

From Cedimat

In its press release, the company states that it has consolidated its leadership in the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes with the introduction of the revolutionary MagDI system, a minimally invasive bariatric and metabolic technique that marks a significant milestone in Dominican medicine. This advancement was presented by Dr. Luis Alfredo Betances, director of the Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Program at CEDIMAT, along with Dr. Michel Garnier (creator of the technology) at the Bariatric Institute.

During the nationwide relaunch of the “Let’s Beat Dengue” campaign, under the slogan “Eliminate, Clean, and Cover,” the Minister of Health emphasized that prevention efforts have allowed the country to be recognized as a leader in disease control.

He also affirmed that the achievements in the fight against dengue are the result of coordinated efforts with the Provincial Directorates and Health Areas (DPS/DAS), as well as the active participation of communities. He specified that the campaign will have a renewed focus on education and the control of mosquito breeding sites.

“We have demonstrated that prevention works. The country today shows encouraging figures that reflect the dedication of our personnel and the commitment to protecting the health of the Dominican people. Now we will redouble our efforts to sustain and expand this success, and continue winning the battle against dengue,” Atallah stated.

The campaign was launched simultaneously in all DPS/DAS (Dental Health Departments). 

According to data from the Epidemiology Directorate, between epidemiological weeks 1 and 32 of this year, 171 confirmed cases were reported, compared to the 1,110 cases recorded in the same period in 2024, reflecting a reduction of more than 85%.

The trend in dengue fever over the past four weeks has also shown a downward trend, with EW 32 having the lowest number of cases, with only one confirmed report.

Juan Manuel Méndez García, executive director of the Emergency Operations Center (COE), stated that the campaign has a positive impact, emphasizing that prevention is a fundamental pillar in the effort to protect the population.

He also stated that the COE is joining these actions, reinforcing its commitment to working together to ensure the well-being of citizens.

 Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ancell Shecker, Vice Minister of Technical and Pedagogical Affairs of the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Education (MINERD), emphasized that health and education are national causes and that it is everyone’s responsibility to work on disease prevention. Therefore, today, the Ministry of Education is joining the “Let’s Beat Dengue” campaign.

The Dominican Republic was recognized by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) for its effective management of dengue fever, particularly in 2024, when the country was named a regional leader in disease control amid a rise in cases in other nations.

As part of the campaign, educational workshops, community operations to eliminate breeding sites, targeted fumigations, junk removal, distribution of informational materials, and distribution of abate (larvicide), in addition to providing guidance to the population, will continue to be carried out with the goal of keeping the disease under control.

Among the complementary initiatives is the National Plan for the Prevention and Control of Dengue, developed with the support of PAHO, which has prioritized social interventions.

Also present at the “Anti-Dengue Family” strategy, developed in coordination with the Ministry of Education and PAHO, is the “Anti-Dengue Family” strategy, which trains students and teachers to multiply preventive efforts in their communities.

The Ministry of Health reiterated that the key to defeating dengue lies in joint action between authorities and the population, urging continued implementation of preventive measures in homes and communities.

Present at the campaign relaunch were Edisson Feliz Feliz, director of the Metropolitan Regional Health Service, and Alba María Ropero Álvarez, representative of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

This year, 2025, is not an epidemic year, and if the country receives an award for control, it should be given to other countries on the continent that have better indicators. Rodríguez Monegro referred to the statements of the Minister of Public Health, Víctor Atallah, who stated that the Dominican Republic has recorded a 78% reduction in dengue cases, thanks to the work carried out by provincial and regional health departments. For the pediatrician and former director of the SNS, the reduction in dengue cases is not due to any implemented strategy; rather, 2025 is a non-epidemic year with a low incidence of the disease. “The decline in dengue cannot be attributed to official campaigns, since when there is a dengue prevention and control campaign, it is felt in the community,” he said.

What is happening in all countries of the Americas is that there is a significant reduction in the incidence of dengue, because this is a year of low incidence and possibly the next one as well, unlike 2022 and 2023, he explained.

Under the criteria used by the Dominican authorities, all of America should be declared champions in the fight against dengue.

Official position

The Ministry of Health called on citizens to join efforts to reduce dengue transmission. The Ministry of Health continues to strengthen vector control efforts to reduce dengue transmission in the country. It stated that mosquito breeding site elimination campaigns, community education on hygiene habits, and fumigation efforts have been intensified.

The Ministry also stated that it has implemented various actions as part of the National Dengue Plan, intending to reduce the incidence of this disease. It also said it has relaunched the “eliminate, clean, and cover” campaign. This week, data for week 33 were released.

Preventive measures against dengue include eliminating mosquito breeding sites (such as stagnant water in containers and tires), protecting against mosquito bites with repellent, and using mosquito nets over beds, doors, and windows.

Public Health urges people to visit the nearest health center if they experience symptoms such as a sudden high fever, severe headache (especially behind the eyes), muscle and joint pain (“breakbone fever”), nausea, vomiting, and a skin rash.

A confirmed case of dengue was reported this week, bringing the total number of cases to 174.

“Recent surveillance data indicate a significant increase in cases of acute respiratory infections, including a resurgence of Covid-19”

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