“The BNA appreciates the inclusion of provisions for long leave benefits and the uniform allowance….It is heartening to see efforts being made to recognise and support nurses who play a vital role in maintaining the health and well-being of the community,” BNA President Dr Fay Parris told Barbados TODAY. 

“The BNA eagerly anticipates the swift continuation of national compact negotiations. This collaborative endeavour between the government and the BNA is significant in addressing critical issues that impact healthcare professionals.”

Parris explained the compact discussions stem from the BNA’s 87th Annual General Meeting last month. Recommendations included establishing two nursing levels – Registered Nurse and Senior Registered Nurse – and salary restructuring and non-financial incentives.

“These comprehensive compact strategies aim to provide incentives to enhance nurse retention and ultimately contribute to a more robust healthcare system,” she said.

In the Budget speech last week, Mottley said nurses with over 15 years of continuous service would benefit from longer vacation leave. She also announced a National Compact with the BNA to recruit and retain nurses through various financial, professional, and personal development incentives.

“We anticipate that this compact…will result in more nurses opting to remain in the health sector at home and to continue providing quality care,” Mottley said. She added that as “an act of good faith”, nurses will receive an additional six weeks’ vacation after 15 years of service.

Addressing uniform delays, the prime minister pledged her administration would provide nurses with a uniform allowance.

The post Nurses urge speeded-up compact talks appeared first on Barbados Today.

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.

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The Vector Control Unit of the Ministry of Health and Wellness will take the fight against mosquito-borne illnesses to three parishes this week – St Lucy, St Peter, and St James.

The team will fog districts in St Lucy on Monday, March 18, including Crab Hill No. 2, Content, Long Gap, Coles Cave Road, Grape Hall, Archers Bay, and Salmond.

The following day, Tuesday, March 19, they will return to that parish and visit Durham, Mount View Road, Rock Hall Road, Jemmotts, Mount Gay, Alexandra, Josey Hill, Nestfield, and Pickerings.

The Unit will then take its mosquito eradication efforts to St Peter, on Wednesday, March 20, when Graveyard, Date Tree Hill, Boscobel, Collins, Diamond Corner, Moore Hill, Castle, Gays, and surrounding areas will be sprayed.

On Thursday, March 21, and Friday, March 22, the parish of St James will be targeted. On Thursday, the team will go into Upper Mount Standfast, Weston, Taylor Gap, Fox Club Road, Reid Gap, Pineapple Avenue, Prescod Road, Husband Road, The Garden, and Store House Road.

The fogging exercise for the week will conclude on Friday, in the following communities: Store House Road, Haynes View Close, Patanne Gardens, Willow Heights Drive, Pavilion Grove, Glitter Bay Terrace, Ince Walk, Mango Drive, Heron Court, Trent’s Tenantry, and Jamestown Park.

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.

(BGIS)

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It is part of the second phase of the Ministry’s Build Them Out, Starve Them Out, Kill Them Out, rat reduction campaign. The partnership will see businesses adopt signs and garbage bins that would encourage members of the public to refrain from littering.

The bins are being placed along the south coast. The campaign also involves correcting the businesses’ garbage disposal methods to help “starve out” the rats.

Senior Environmental Health Officer at the Randal Phillips Polyclinic in Oistins, Trevor Taylor, explained that health officials discovered some deficiencies in the way businesses were storing garbage, which encouraged the proliferation of rats because these businesses became a food source.

“We engaged the business owners along the coast on how they should store garbage appropriately in bins and garbage houses and have it removed at appropriate times. We also found there was a lot of litter around the boardwalk coming from persons using that area,” Taylor stated.

He added: “It is not only about rats but about the outlook for Barbados as a clean destination and protecting the marine environment. I like spearfishing and the amount of litter you find in the sea is amazing. It is not just for businesses to get involved; it is for everybody. Just take your garbage and place it in bins.”

The Senior Environmental Health Officer said one aspect of the campaign, which started in August, last year, is to ‘rat proof’ the garbage bins, which is the “build out” component. However, he pointed out that this was still a work in progress.

Taylor noted that the bins health inspectors are aiming to have placed along the south coast will have a key, so business owners can open and lock the bins, when necessary, to keep out rodents. In the meantime, health inspectors continue to bait along the south coast, the “kill them out” phase of the campaign.

So far, he said two well-known businesses, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pirates Inn, have partnered with the Ministry to combat littering and rodents on the south coast, with a number of hotels expressing an interest in coming on board.

Businesses interested in partnering with the Ministry of Health and Wellness in its rodent reduction campaign may contact Taylor at the Randal Philips Polyclinic at telephone number 536-4314.

SOURCE: BGIS

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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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The Vector Control Unit of the Ministry of Health and Wellness will concentrate its mosquito eradication efforts in the east and north of the island this week.

The team will start on Monday, February 26, in St Andrew, in the following districts: Boy School Road, Worrell Road, Walkers, Lakes, Bawden’s Road, and surrounding areas.

The Unit will focus on spraying communities in St Lucy for the next three days from Tuesday, February 27, to Thursday, February 29.

On Tuesday, Crab Hill Development, Content, Stroud Bay Road, Coles Cave Road, Grape Hall, Archers Bay, Salmond, and environs will be fogged. It will then be the turn of Cluffs, Roaches, Retreat Road, Hope Development, Springer Road, Animal Cave Road, North Point Gardens, Northumberland, and River Bay on Wednesday.

The team will complete its exercise in St Lucy on Thursday, in the following areas: Pie Corner, Little Bay, Upper Salmond, Josey Hill, Rock Hall, Mount View, Chance Hall, Cave Hill, Bishops, and neighbouring districts.

The fogging exercise for the week will conclude on Friday, March 1, when the team visits St James, to spray Crusher Site Road, Prospect Road, Johnson Road, Jordan Road, and Berbice No.1 and No.2.

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.

(BGIS/PR)

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Furthermore, health officials said they were aware of the disquiet it has caused among residents in the area, and are working with property owners to have the pool drained and maintained. The Ministry also pointed out that it would continue to monitor the situation at the property.

It added that while there is still a dengue fever outbreak on the island, the number of suspected and confirmed cases continues to decline.

Health authorities urged Barbadians to remain vigilant and take the necessary actions to prevent mosquito breeding on their properties.

The Ministry noted that it would continue its weekly fogging programme, which aims to reduce the population of the adult aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits dengue.

(PR)

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The Shaw Centre for Paediatric Excellence has made its first donation of equipment to the Paediatrics Department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. 

The 24 pieces of equipment valued at approximately $170,000 were officially handed over on Thursday by SCPE Barbados Director, Dr Clyde Cave to Consultant and Head of the QEH Pediatrics Department, Dr Angela Jennings. 

The QEH says this support from the Shaw Centre will assist efforts to improve the level of care provided for young patients and is another step in the partnership where the hospital is the recipient of medical support on several levels. 

Dr Cave, an honorary consultant and leading pediatrician said, “the journey is one toward excellence and the actual physical equipment is only one station along the way”. 

Giving her take on the donation, Dr Jennings explains the new equipment is a significant advancement and improvement and will go a long way to improving the level of care offered to children on the Pediatric ward. 

She’s also appealing to corporate Barbados to initiate more public-private sector partnerships to help address some of the hospital’s other critical needs. 

The donation includes infant scales, digital health-o-meters, measuring mats, medical carts, patient monitors and examination tables. 

Some of the successes of the SCPE programme to date include: 

• Specialist training of some 40 local nurses to be redeployed at the QEH and across Barbados’ health-care system.

• Four physicians trained in targeted, high-need paediatric subspecialties.

• The completion of six international observerships in quality improvement.

This donation is the first of many expected in the coming months, as the Shaw Centre for Paediatric Excellence continues to partner with provide support to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

(PR)

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On Monday, February 19, the team from the Vector Control Unit will visit a number of districts in St Andrew. They are Corbin’s Road, Lakes Road, Farrell Road, Isolation Road, Jordan Road, Franklin Doughlin Road, Babylon Road, Walkers, Bawden’s Road, and environs.

The following areas in St Peter will be fogged on Tuesday, February 20: French Village, Mount Brevitor, West Ring Road, Vuemont, Bow Drive, Inner Circle, Mile- and- a- Quarter, and surrounding districts.

On Wednesday, February 21, the St Peter districts of Maynard’s Road, Maynard’s Housing Area, Leslie Gardens, Carpenter’s Circle, Rose Hill, and environs will be sprayed.

The team will target the St Lucy districts of Trent’s Road, Hannays Road, Swampy Town, Hope Bridge Road, and neighbouring areas on Thursday, February 22.

Fogging will conclude for the week on Friday, February 23, in St Thomas in White Hall Road, Country View, Hill View Drive, and environs.

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 spray.

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, it will return to communities affected in the soonest possible time.

(PR)

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The Ministry of Health and Wellness’ Vector Control Unit will target the parishes of St Philip and St Michael for fogging this week.

The team will be in St Philip for the first four days of the week before moving onto communities in St Michael.

On Monday, February 5, the Unit will spray College Savannah 1 & 2, Fortescue and environs. The following day, Tuesday, February 6, they will concentrate their mosquito eradication efforts in Blades Hill 1 to 3, Bayfield, Skeete’s Bay, and neighbouring districts.

Culpepper Development, Marley Vale, St. Catherine Road, Ragged Point, and surrounding areas will be targeted on Wednesday, February 7.

The team will wrap up in St Philip on Thursday, February 8, when they fog Industry Hall, Content Cot, and Coles Road.

The fogging exercise for the week will conclude on Friday, February 9, when the Unit visits the following areas in St Michael: Passage Road, Passage Garden, Alleyne Lane, Strathclyde Crescent, Strathclyde Drive, and Monteith Gardens.

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 spray.

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.

(PR)

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