Better communication between the island’s numerous health-care providers is required to improve the quality and administration of patient care.

This was the view shared by Ian Weithers, President of the Barbados Association of Radiographers, as he spoke to media personnel during Saturday’s opening ceremony for the Barbados Association of Radiographers and the Barbados Health Information Management Conference 2023. The conference was held at the O2 Beach Club and Spa, Dover Beach, Christ Church.

Weithers said COVID-19 was an eye-opening experience for the medical community, with access to patient information and other data proving challenging despite the need for it.

“In the past, everyone managed their own information, and sometimes it would be difficult when one is dealing with patient records and information to get information from another area. With the advancement of technologies we are now beginning to share information a whole lot better, which obviously means better management of patient care,” Weithers said.

“There are still a lot of gaps in information sharing. A lot of gaps for instance in care, the continuum of care. We need to get that better if patients are supposed to be better treated, and we get success with all of the other things that we are doing.”

Meanwhile, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr Sonia Browne, also shared similar sentiments, stating that Government and medical organisations need to work together to remove data silos and other inefficiencies within the system to better improve patient care.

“Images of disparities in access, inefficiencies in the provision of care, and absence of supporting quality mechanisms, compartmentalisation of care does not allow for the provision of services from the systems perspective. It breeds inefficiencies in the use of resources and maximisation of funds,” Browne said.

“Additionally, the health-care industry has long been grappling with the challenge of hidden data silos; these data silos make it more difficult for organisations and health-care professionals to exchange information smoothly, which impedes care coordination and ultimately affects patient outcomes.”

Government and medical organisations work together to remove data silos and other inefficiencies within the system to better improve patient care, Bowne said.

She also revealed that the Ministry of Health and Wellness in 2022, with support from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) did an assessment of Barbados’ Information Systems for Health (IS4H), to develop a short and medium term work plan for the national level. Findings from this assessment will be used in short order to better streamline a number of services on the island.

(SB)

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The Vector Control Unit of the Ministry of Health and Wellness will continue its mosquito eradication efforts this week in the parishes of St Lucy, St Peter, and St Michael.

Fogging will commence on Monday, November 6, in the following St Lucy districts – Maycocks Terrace, Checker Hall Development, Friendly Hall, Husbands Road, Harrisons and environs.

The team will return to St Lucy, on Tuesday, November 7, to fog Clinketts Gardens, Sutherland Road, Fustic Village, Checker Hall Road, Half Moon Fort, Colleton Gardens, Shermans, and surrounding areas.

The Unit will turn its attention to communities in St Peter on Wednesday, November 8, when they visit Six Men’s Development, Colleton Gardens, Retreat Road, and Port St Charles.

The following day, Thursday, November 9, Heywoods Development and Golden Mile, also in St Peter, will be targeted for fogging.

Fogging for the week will conclude on Friday, November 10, when some areas in St Michael will be sprayed, including Free Hill with avenues, Rock Road, Connell Road, Free Hill Crescent, and neighbouring districts.

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.

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 Accident and Emergency Department is again experiencing a surge in the number of patients presenting for treatment with various medical complaints. At 11am today November 1st, 2023, approximately 50 patients were waiting to be seen by our medical team.

The peak in numbers has led to some patients experiencing increased wait times in the department. For further information or advice on if you need to present to the Accident and Emergency Department with your medical complaint, please call our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS/Help Desk) at 536-4800 using regular or whatsapp calls from 9am to 12 midnight during this surge.

You also have the option of visiting the 24-hour Winston Scott Polyclinic at Jemmotts Lane, St. Michael for treatment or your private General Practitioner.

If you present to the AED with medical conditions which are not deemed life-threatening or an emergency, it is possible you may experience an extended wait.

Life-threatening conditions, under the Accident and Emergency’s Triage System will continue to be seen and treated immediately. These include patients who for example, have life, limb or sight threatening complaints, gunshot wounds, heart attacks, active seizure activity or a patient who needs resuscitation.

We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused and we will continue to provide updates as we work to reduce extended waiting times and offer the best possible care and treatment in the Accident and Emergency Department

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Health professionals in the Caribbean are urging women to seek early testing for breast cancer, as recent data reveals a troubling increase in diagnoses among women between the ages of 30 and 39.

During a recent webinar titled ‘Join the Fight: A conversation about breast cancer,’ organized by Sagicor Life, a Primary Care Physician from St Kitts and Nevis, Dr Kesiha Liddie, issued a stark warning about the shifting landscape of breast cancer diagnoses over the past five to six years.

“The important thing is to become aware very early,” Dr Liddie said. She noted that while breast cancer diagnoses have historically been associated with older age and a higher incidence in females compared to males, there is a growing trend of breast cancer being detected in younger women.

Data from St Kitts underscored this concerning trend. Dr Liddie shared statistics indicating that the country reported 36 cases this year within the age group of 50 to 59 and 23 cases in ages 40 to 49. There were no cases found under the age of 30.

However, there were 14 cases diagnosed in women aged 30 to 39, marking a significant increase in diagnoses among younger women compared to previous years when the majority of cases occurred in women aged 50 and above.

Dr Asante Le Blanc, Chairperson of the Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Society, delved into potential risk factors beyond age that might be contributing to the rising number of cases among younger women. She emphasized that while family history and lifestyle choices may be influential, environmental factors, including climate change, were also playing a significant role in the escalating cancer incidence. 

Furthermore, Dr Le Blanc stressed the importance of awareness and vigilance, both personally and professionally, highlighting risks associated with the prolonged use of birth control and exposure to carcinogens, formaldehyde, and radiation in certain occupations and lifestyles. 

She pointed out that the rise in breast cancer diagnoses among younger women, while concerning, reflects an increased awareness of the disease and underscores the need for preventive measures.

“Screening for breast cancer is a very holistic programme and that means from our young age of puberty, we need to teach young girls about their breasts and how to do self-breast examinations because it aids in terms of you understanding what your breasts feel like on a monthly basis before even having to do a clinical breast exam,” Le Blanc said.

“So, from a young age, if you understand what your breasts feel like, when you’re 30 and feel something different, you won’t have to wonder and wait, you can go to your doctor and say something is different because you know what your breasts have been feeling like over the years … and that allows for earlier diagnosis and therefore early detection and therefore better survivorship.”

The webinar also featured personal stories from two panelists, Tonya Byer, a digital communications specialist from Barbados, and Nurse and Counselor Emalda Benjamin from Antigua and Barbuda.

Byer shared her diagnosis experience at the age of 38, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and prompt medical attention when faced with unexplained weight loss during breastfeeding.

In contrast, Benjamin initially dismissed a lump she felt in 2017 but sought medical help during a routine physical examination at the age of 50, which led to her breast cancer diagnosis.

Dr Liddie reflected on these personal stories, acknowledging that the lifestyle of the current generation has significantly evolved compared to previous generations. She underscored that breast cancer is an individualized disease, presenting differently for each person.

Dr Liddie stated that risk factors such as early menarche, late menopause, not having children, having a first child after the age of 30, and choosing not to breastfeed, all increase the likelihood of breast cancer.

Breast cancer stands as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for women in the Caribbean region. As awareness about the disease continues to grow, participants in the webinar pointed to the critical need to build robust support communities for those affected by breast cancer.

Dr Le Blanc therefore encouraged patients to connect with survivor networks, highlighting the significant advancements in cancer treatment in recent years.

Concluding her remarks, Dr Blanc noted, “You’re going to have tough days, you’re going to have good days, but that’s where your support network comes into play, and though it might seem daunting, there have been remarkable strides in cancer treatment on the whole.”

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A mammogram is a radiographic image of the breast. Regular mammograms have the ability to detect breast cancer in its early stages, sometimes up to three years before it can be felt.

When you go for your mammogram, initially, you’ll position yourself in front of an X-ray machine, where a radiologist will place one of your breasts on a plastic plate. Another plate will then gently compress your breast from above, keeping it steady while the X-ray is taken.

You may experience some pressure. Subsequently, the same procedure will be carried out for the other breast. Finally, you’ll wait while the radiologist reviews the X-rays to ensure that they don’t need to be retaken before you receive your results.

It is important to note that each woman’s mammogram may look a little different due to the unique characteristics of each individual’s breast. Contact Diagnostic Radiology at 432-7099 or office@diagnosticbarbados.com to book your appointment.

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A medical practitioner says the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) needs to hire additional anesthesiologists to meet the demands that can only be executed by physicians trained in that speciality area.

Speaking to members of the media at a World Anaesthesia Day Symposium in the QEH Auditorium on Monday, consultant anesthesiologist Dr Keisha Thomas-Gibson said more anesthesiologists were required to decrease the heavy workload in the Anaesthesia Department, as she noted that the duties of anesthesiologists go way beyond administering medication to put a patient to sleep before surgery and being there to wake them following the procedure.

Dr Thomas-Gibson, who is the Anesthesia Intensive Care programme coordinator for the University of the West Indies (UWI) undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, said because the anesthesiologist’s role stretches outside the operating theatre, more human resources are necessary to service all the other areas.

“Ninety-nine per cent of patients do not know that the anesthesiologist is with them throughout the surgery. They think that we give an injection and sometimes return to wake you up, or you wake up on your own, and that is absolutely not the case. We are the intraoperative, the surgeon cuts, and we do everything else. 

“So it is a situation where, of course, we need human resources, we need persons, we need staff to be able to execute all of the different roles that we have and the speciality of anaesthesia. Because we are finding ourselves in so many other parts of the hospital, we need staff to be able to service all those areas that we are required to service,” she said.

Adding that an extensive list of highly specialised surgeries is performed in Barbados, Dr Thomas-Gibson said that, at times, anesthesiologists have to push other cases aside to be able to provide the service to that speciality case.

“So the backlogs can’t be addressed by us alone. We are here every single day, and we only do what is presented up until a particular time within here and obvious limitations,” she said.

During her presentation, Dr Thomas-Gibson stressed that the safety record at the hospital is “exceptional”.

She commended the partnership between UWI and the QEH, where doctors are receiving specialised training to become anesthesiologists. (AH)

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In the wake of a loved one’s passing, many find solace in preserving cherished memories through photos, mementoes, or keepsakes. For former journalist Krystal Penny Bowen, the route of memory for her late mother, Sheralene Bowen, begins in the kitchen. The destination is the book, Food: My Mother’s Love Language: Celebrating the Life of Sheralene Bowen, a culinary tribute encapsulating her mother’s delicious recipes.

Bowen has received heartwarming feedback from readers who commend her for the touching tribute to her mother. 

She fondly recalled one of her most cherished memories of working side by side with her mother in the kitchen, a place where they not only prepared meals but also nurtured their bond.

“My mother loved to let me take photos of her food. I think that was the only way that I could be in the kitchen. In addition to that we would work together to get her food orders out. I was often called on to get the supplies or prep the raw materials. I would provide as much support as possible and in some cases, I would even serve the food at the event during her catering jobs,” she said. 

The idea took root in November 2021 when Krystal created a 12-page draft containing her ailing mother’s 12 cherished recipes. Sheralene wholeheartedly embraced the concept and supported her daughter’s effort until she succumbed to cervical cancer just four months later. Krystal was determined to see her dream of publishing the book come to fruition, not only as a culinary compilation but also as a brief glimpse into the multifaceted life of her beloved mother, who was not only a chef but also a devoted mom and active community member.

Krystal emphasised her dedication to commemorating her mother’s life with the utmost respect for her final days and their family. The book primarily focuses on her mother’s remarkable career as a cook and entrepreneur, taking approximately four months to complete. Krystal collaborated with Robert Gibson of Passionate Words Editing Services, whose expertise was invaluable in shaping the book’s layout and appearance.

While the writing process was undoubtedly challenging, Krystal firmly believes it played an integral role in her healing journey by allowing her to share her mother’s incredible persona with a wider audience.

Krystal said: “My mother was an incredible person. She was artistic, funny, kind and loving. She was a social butterfly – she enjoyed socialising, dancing, singing and volunteering. As a cook and chef, she worked in hospitality, in food canteens as well as in several restaurants such as the now defunct BJ’s Café, Wonderland Deli and the University of The West Indies Cave Hill Campus Cafeteria. She catered for The University of The West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, World Cup 2007, QEH Medical Staff as well as for the late Prime Minister of Barbados, The Rt. Hon. David Thompson and then-Attorney General of Barbados, and now Prime Minister of Barbados, The Hon. Mia Amor Mottley. Mom was unable to work for many years due to her declining health, in 2022 she was diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer.”

The graduate of The University of Leicester with a Masters of Art in Media, Communications, and Public Relations urges others to consider documenting their loved ones’ legacies through writing, as it can provide solace during the grieving process.

“Writing a book about your loved one is difficult, but I believe one should do it. My mom meant the world to me. She was my friend, she loved me unconditionally. When writing, think of what was truly special about that parent. For my mother, it was her love of cooking and how she used food to share her love. Food was her love language –it was how she showed her feelings, and she was an incredible cook too,” she shared, encapsulating the profound sentiment behind her tribute to her mother. (PR/BT)

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By Emmanuel Joseph

A CARICOM Impact Assessment (CIA) study on front-of-package Nutritional Labelling (FoPNL) has unveiled that Barbados imports the highest percentage of products displaying the UK Traffic Light warning system.

FoPNL is seen as a tool to inform consumers of the healthiness of foods, encourage healthier food choices, and limit the intake of foods that contain high amounts of critical nutrients of public health concern, such as sodium, sugars, and fats.

The CIA study, which was funded by the region’s private sector, also confirmed the need for a labelling model designed to meet the unique needs of consumers in Barbados and the rest of the region.

Ironically, the 214-page research, conducted by St Lucia-based KMA Consulting Limited last year, found that “the US Facts Up Front and the UK Traffic Light schemes are best suited to achieve the regional population’s health objectives, in comparison to the CARICOM Regional Standards Scheme Octagonal Warning Label”.

The controversial Black and White Octagonal Warning Label is the sole front-of-package model under consideration by CARICOM, whose member states will vote this weekend on whether to implement it as the region-wide system.

On Monday, the Barbados Private Sector Association (BPSA), representing food and beverage makers and importers, told Barbados TODAY that it planned to reject the CARICOM label.

The study, designed to ascertain an appropriate FoPNL scheme and identify a harmonised approach for its implementation, was commissioned by the Regional Private Sector Organisation.

“Of the products with an FoPNL, the most commonly used was the US Facts Up Front, followed by the EU GDA and UK Traffic Light systems in descending order. On average, 16 per cent of the products in the product sample featured the US Facts Up Front FoPNL, 4 per cent the EU GDA, and only 0.9 per cent bore the UK Traffic FoPNL,” the survey concluded.

“The Bahamas had the largest percentage of products with the US Facts Up Front FoPNL at 29 per cent, while Jamaica had the lowest at six per cent. The GDA system was most commonly used in Belize and Trinidad, with seven per cent and five per cent of the products carrying that label, respectively. Jamaica had the lowest percentage of goods with the EU GDA label at only two per cent.

“Barbados had the highest percentage of products with the UK Traffic Light system at four per cent. However, none of the products in the sample from Guyana and Jamaica carried the UK Traffic Light system. No products were found bearing the Mexican and Brazilian FoPNL Models.”

The survey also revealed that “a clear regional policy should be enunciated to guide the design and format of a regional FoPNL scheme suited to meet the needs of regional consumers”.

The researchers also recommended that the development process for the label should be jointly led by the relevant public sector agencies responsible for trade, economic development, and food and nutrition security and that this process involves all key stakeholders, particularly the regional food manufacturing/processing sector.

They concluded that once consensus is reached on the design and format of the FoPNL model, it should be proposed for regional standardisation through the established regional standards development process.

“Concurrently, member states should urgently begin steps towards strengthening their national and consequently regional quality infrastructure for food and nutrition safety and security,” the impact assessment recommended, adding that enforcement should be informed by a thorough Regulatory Impact Assessment.

“Enforcement of an FoPNL scheme should be carried out through the appropriate food safety technical regulations (referencing the appropriate national labelling standard) in each member state at the appropriate stage.”

Before recommending the US and UK front-of-package labels for use in the region, the researchers evaluated and ranked the different schemes on factors such as economic impact, social impact, and compliance impact.

Using data from primary and secondary sources, the different FoPNL models were assessed within a multi-criteria analysis (MCA) framework, applying indicators such as consumer choice, production, and trade.

They said that MCA is used as an alternative to cost-benefit analysis to assess the comparative suitability of alternatives and consider other factors that cannot be quantified or assigned monetary value.

The study revealed that across the eight pilot countries, on average, 70 per cent of the products reviewed had nutritional facts labels, while only 22 per cent had FoPNL. The Bahamas had the highest percentage of products with nutritional facts labels, 95 per cent, and consequently the highest proportion of products with an FoPNL.

The survey found that Barbados had the seventh highest, with 65 per cent.

However, Barbados fared slightly better among the eight countries when it came to front-of-package nutritional labels, ranking fourth, with 22 per cent of its products featuring FoPNL.

The findings from the market baseline assessment, randomised control trial, stakeholder engagement, and literature review confirmed that the eating habits of regional consumers have trended toward increased consumption of street vended and packaged processed foods.

The results also showed that food-based dietary guidelines in most CARICOM member states are outdated and not aligned with the intent of the regional and respective national policies on food and nutrition security.

Coming out of the stakeholder engagement, it was recommended that the introduction of an FoPNL scheme must be supported by a robust consumer education campaign. 

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

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The Ministry of Health and Wellness has confirmed a dengue fever outbreak in Barbados.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Kenneth George, disclosed that the threshold was reached at the end of September, where 518 cases were recorded compared to the same period in 2022, when there were 241 cases. The Ministry of Health and Wellness classifies a case of dengue fever as both suspected and confirmed.

Of the 40 confirmed cases of dengue for the year, 28 were recorded in September.

“These recent increases signal the start of a dengue fever outbreak in Barbados in September 2023. There were no confirmed cases in 2022,” the Chief Medical Officer stated.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has also advised that there have been outbreaks in Martinique and Guadeloupe in the Eastern Caribbean, with dengue virus serotype 2 resulting in some hospitalisations.   There have also been recorded rising cases in the OECS, including Grenada. The World Health Organization recently indicated that increased cases of mosquito-borne disease were likely in Europe, the United States of America and Africa, as a result of climate change (warmer, wetter and less reliable climate).

Dengue fever is an acute mosquito-borne febrile illness caused by infection with one of the four known dengue serotypes.  It is endemic in Barbados with occasional outbreaks.

The public is reminded of the symptoms, which include headaches, muscle and joint pains, vomiting and a characteristic skin rash. Most cases are self-limiting and recovery generally takes two to seven days.

In severe cases, haemorrhagic symptoms and organ failure can occur, which may, on occasion, result in shock and death. The likelihood of adverse outcomes occurs when there are multiple strains circulating. The Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory has advised that serotypes 1, 2 and 3 are circulating in Barbados.

Dr George urged members of the public to take immediate protective actions. These include:

• Source reduction – removal of sites and receptacles where stagnant water can collect. For example, the overflow dishes of plant pots in homes, plant cuttings and discarded tyres,
• using mosquito repellent on the skin,
• wearing light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and long pants, particularly during peak biting times – dusk and dawn,
• using mosquito nets over infant beds, cribs, carriers and strollers,
• and installing window and door screens to keep out mosquitoes.

Additionally, Dr George advised persons who have an unexplained fever or exhibit any of the other symptoms mentioned above, to seek medical attention.  A blood test will be required for confirmation of dengue fever.

The Chief Medical Officer said that the Ministry of Health and Wellness will use the location of reported suspected and confirmed dengue cases to inform its fogging campaign. He further advised that any unusual increases in mosquito sightings should be reported to the environmental health department of the nearest polyclinic. To date, there have been no deaths attributed to dengue fever.

(BGIS)

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President of the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners (BAMP) Dr Lynda Williams is suggesting that the revenues collected from the 20 per cent sugar-sweetened beverage excise tax and the soon-to-be-implemented tax on products high in salt content be used specifically within the health sector.

She told Barbados TODAY she would prefer if the money collected by the government from those taxes be set aside specifically to boost the budget for healthcare, rather than be placed into the Consolidated Fund – the government account into which all revenues are paid and from which all spending is made.

“If we just put it in the general funds and hope that you can increase your health fund, that most likely will not happen,” the prominent doctor said.

“My feeling about all those things is that it works as long as the money that is collected from this goes towards health expenditure. If you are just putting on a tax and put it in the general fund as just another collection of taxation, and you hope that it pans out to be more expenditure for health, that is less significant than knowing that [based] on this revenue, this is how much to increase health expenditure by.”

Barbados has one of the highest rates of overweight and obese populations within Latin America and the Caribbean, with about 30 per cent of children considered overweight and 14 per cent obese.

About one in every three Barbadian adults is considered overweight, and a similar number is obese.

In an effort to help reduce the intake of sugar-sweetened beverages among Barbadians and control non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, the government introduced a 10 per cent excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages in 2015. This was designed to generate in excess of $10 million in its first year.

Effective April 1, 2022, the Mia Mottley administration increased the excise tax on sweetened drinks to 20 per cent.

Dr Williams said she supported the tax measure but stressed that it was important for the government to know exactly how much was being collected and put that towards the development of the health sector.

The government is currently in the process of reviewing a draft policy for similar taxation on products high in salt content. This could be ready for implementation as early as the first quarter of next year.

“We have had the discussion about sugar taxes and we have implemented sugar-sweetened beverage taxes; now there is the discussion about salt…. Taxes have been shown in other countries to cause a reduction in spending when people are purchasing,” said Williams.

A joint University of the West Indies and Cambridge University study released in 2019 concluded that Barbadians were buying fewer sweet drinks and getting more bottled waters and non-sugar alternatives.

It showed that consumption dropped by some 10 per cent one year after the tax was implemented, when compared to two years before.

marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb

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