Guardian Life of The Caribbean Limited has reaffirmed its commitment to improving cancer care and financial access for women across the region, with a focus on prevention, early detection, and inclusive insurance solutions. 

The announcement was made by President at Guardian Life of The Caribbean Limited, Samanta Saugh, last Friday at the Caribbean Association for Oncology and Hematology (CAOH) Conference at Hyatt Regency Trinidad, where Guardian Life participated as a sponsor and strategic partner.

“As a subsidiary as part of the largest indigenous financial services group in the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean, Guardian Life understands the vital role we play in supporting the wellbeing of our communities,” said Saugh. “We are working to ensure that equity in care includes not only medical treatment but also financial protection and peace of mind.”

Over the past five years, Guardian Life has seen a steady increase in cancer-related claims, particularly among women. 

According to the data:

• Cancer accounts for 47 per cent of all critical illness claims across the company’s portfolio.
• Women file 53 per cent of all claims.
• 68 per cent of female critical illness claims are cancer-related, with breast and ovarian cancers most common.

In response, Guardian Life is taking several meaningful steps to better serve its clients:

• Tailored Insurance Products: Developing inclusive policies with coverage specific to gynaecological cancers and more accessible options for lower-income women.
• Support Beyond the Payout: Bundling financial protection with wellness, care navigation, and mental health support throughout the treatment journey.
• Digital Claims Innovation: Streamlining the claims process through user-friendly technology for faster, more transparent service.
• Healthcare Partnerships: For example, launching a breast cancer screening drive in collaboration with Bayview Urgent Care Facility in Barbados, making preventative care more accessible for policyholders.

Guardian Life continues to work closely with healthcare professionals, NGOs, and policymakers to strengthen the regional ecosystem of care. 

“At Guardian Life, we see the people behind the policies,” said Saugh. 

“We’re here to protect futures—and that means listening, innovating, and acting with compassion.”

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Nurses in public healthcare are set to benefit from a comprehensive safety review across the system, following fresh commitments from the Ministry of Health to address longstanding concerns about workplace security, the Barbados Nurses Association (BNA) said Friday, declaring progress with the authorities on improving safety for nurses.

Plans include strengthening security at polyclinics and the hospital, and looking into panic buttons for staff, said BNA President Faye Parris. 

“BNA had a call from an organisation… who wanted to assist with having panic buttons,” she said, adding that there must first be a “comprehensive assessment so that we can put everything in place.”

A recent town hall meeting with the Ministry of Health was a step in the right direction, according to the BNA. 

“We were very grateful to the ministry for accommodating us and having a town hall meeting, and to be working to strengthen the shuttle service across the system,” Parris said. She added that the BNA is “working with the ministry to collate the information and strengthen that service across the system.”

Safety remains a top concern for nurses, Parris said, noting that after the meeting, the ministry agreed to a full safety review. 

“One of the things that came up at that town hall is that there’s going to be a comprehensive assessment that BNA has been calling for, for a while, of the institutions to assess all their safety needs and come up with a comprehensive plan,” she explained.

While welcoming the government’s response as “favourable”, Parris said “members felt that there could be more urgency when dealing with the matters”.

She was adamant that nurses should not have to work in fear, adding: “What I find we’ve been doing is being reactive… So it has to be collaborative, a joint effort… so that we can be proactive. I want us to be proactive because we can’t afford… a loss of life of a nurse.”

The BNA is also rolling out self-defence classes which are gaining in popularity. 

“We are facilitating defence classes for nurses and as well as we’re going to be doing webinars since the first webinars, and the defence classes are attracting a lot of persons,” Parris said. “We have quite a number of nurses who are signing up for these defence classes.” (LG)

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Health experts have sounded an alarm over the nation’s reliance on imported fruits and vegetables, warning that ultra-processing and genetic modification are stripping food of its nutritional value and threatening public health. 

They called for urgent action to shift eating habits back to locally grown, seasonal produce, as concerns mount over the impact of trade policy on the island’s food security.

Speaking at a Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados workshop at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel on Thursday, clinical nutritionist Nicole Elliott, co-chair of the Barbados Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition, warned that imported produce — particularly apples and corn — may be undergoing ultra-processing or genetic modification that alters their natural characteristics while still appearing deceptively fresh.

“We had an experiment running at school — how long we could keep apples out of the fridge before they went bad — and you can try this out when you get home,” Elliott revealed. “Normal red apples, the ones we used to call ‘50 cent apples’ (gala apples), I guarantee you that if you keep them in the refrigerator, they will last you a year and they will not go rubbery, they will not turn brown. And even if you leave them outside, the same thing will happen. For some reason, those innocent apples that we are accustomed to purchasing now are being subjected to ultra-processing, and they still look like they’re in their natural form.”

She explained that modern food technology and genetic engineering were driving changes that many consumers were unaware of.

“We’ve been seeing product modification and food technology at play for a long time. Depending on where our products come from — and who the importer is — we get foods from countries that do genetic modification, especially with corn, apples, and other items that are in high demand and require large-scale production,” she said.

“So, you’ll find that some apples spoil the way you’d expect — they go through the normal food spoilage process. But others? You leave them out, and nothing happens. They just sit there. Sometimes, you’ll look at an apple and say, ‘This looks too shiny, too perfect,’ almost like the one from the Snow White story. And when you pour hot water on it, the wax coating comes off. That’s because wax is added to make it look more appealing. And that works — we’ve all been conditioned from childhood to think that’s what a ‘good’ apple should look like.”

Elliott cautioned that while not all imported apples or fruits are problematic, Barbadians must begin to think critically about food sources and push for minimal processing.

“Eat the apple — don’t eat the Apple Jacks [cereal]. That’s what I’m saying. We can’t stop eating, but we have to start choosing the lesser of the two evils. A good place to start is eating as close to the farm as possible, as close to the source as possible. Because if that apple already has something added to it at the fresh stage, imagine what’s happening when you start dehydrating it, packaging it in a special kid snack, or mixing it into granola.

“The apple is just an example — not all apples behave the same — but the point is, the more we process it, the further it gets from being an actual apple. By the time you get that so-called ‘apple’, you might as well have been eating dirt. There’s no value left in it — no nutrition, no substance, no flavour — just a name.”

Her comments were echoed by Dr Maddy Murphy, senior lecturer at the George Alleyne Chronic Disease Research Centre, part of the University of the West Indies Cave Hill campus. Murphy said the dominance of imported produce in the region’s food systems was driven largely by trade policy — not public health.

“This is one of the biggest issues we have with parents — what are the options? Because the fruits and vegetables are going in a certain direction,” she said. “For most countries in the Caribbean, most of our fruits and veg are imported. [There’s] a whole range of reasons, and it’s not related to health. A lot of this is about the Ministry of Economics and Trade, and those kinds of things. It’s about the World Trade Organisation and being able to bring certain things in.”

Dr Murphy added: “Some of those farms are bigger than some of our islands, so the price that they’re able to send down their fruit and veg — our local products can’t compete a lot of times when it comes to price. That’s something we really need to change in terms of our food and nutrition security.”

She said regional food systems must move towards greater self-sufficiency and cohesion, highlighting the need to increase the availability and appeal of local, seasonal produce.

“We’ve spoken to parents, and they’ll tell you: their kids don’t know what dunks and ackees are any more. They’re just not exposed. When you talk to farmers, they’ll say there’s so much construction and development that a lot of those indigenous fruits and vegetables are being removed and not replaced.”

Both Elliott and Dr Murphy called for renewed efforts to educate Barbadian families — especially children — about local fruits and vegetables, food preparation, and the risks of over-reliance on cheap, imported goods.

“It’s all nice and shiny to have blueberries and strawberries and everything else. But you have a lot of foreigners who come down here — tourists come here and they want to eat our local produce. They see the benefits and talk about breadfruit as a superfood.

“I think what we need to do is education and appreciation for what we have, and really to start getting people to eat local. The food preparation is important. You don’t want to add too many things, but it’s closer to home, it’s less of the pesticides, it’s less of the storage, the waxes and all those things.” 

(SZB)

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A primary school in Christ Church was abruptly closed on Tuesday after a seven-year-old pupil was admitted to intensive care with a suspected infectious illness, leaving parents and teachers demanding answers.

The Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) has confirmed that a pupil of Gordon Walters Primary School, in St Patrick’s, was being treated in the Intensive Care Unit, and at least six of his 11 classmates have also fallen ill, with high fever the most common symptom reported. 

Teachers are now calling on health authorities to provide answers, as investigations continue into the child’s condition and the cause of the cluster of student absences.

In a statement issued on Tuesday evening, the Ministry of Education said the decision to close the school was made “out of caution for the health and safety of its staff and students” after being notified by the Principal of the hospital admission.

Speaking to Barbados TODAY at the school, BUT Vice-President Julian Pierre, who chairs the union’s health and safety committee, said the incident had left staff deeply concerned.

“There are a number of students in a particular class – I think the class has 12 students – where about seven of the students are out sick. The general symptom of that class, as reported, was high fever,” he disclosed.

“There are also students from other classes who are absent, reasons being unknown. Similar to the case at St Bernard’s Primary School, the staff is concerned as to what it possibly could be.”

Pierre noted that no official diagnosis had yet been made regarding the child in hospital.

“There has been a report or confirmation from the Chief Medical Officer that there are no cases of scarlet fever,” he said.

News of the hospitalisation began circulating on Monday night, and teachers met with the Principal the following morning. Many expressed discomfort about continuing classes given the uncertainty and the child’s condition.

“Teachers said they were uncomfortable. The level of anxiety was high, especially after what happened at St Bernard’s and the fact that this child had to be hospitalised,” Pierre said. “They’re worried it could be a highly contagious disease.”

The education ministry said in its statement: “The Principal of Gordon Walters Primary conducted a staff briefing this morning to update staff on the student’s welfare. Some teachers communicated feelings of discomfort to the Principal, and choosing to err on the side of caution, [the ministry] closed the school at 11:35 a.m.”

The Ministry of Health was actively investigating the symptoms and circumstances surrounding the child’s admission, the ministry said. 

“As per protocols and best practices, the immediate contacts have been identified and are being appropriately managed,” the statement added.

Despite those assurances, Pierre said the mood among teachers remained tense.

The situation comes just a week after St Bernard’s Primary in St Joseph was forced to close for two days. Several students fell ill at that school, prompting industrial cleaning and a full inspection by health officials. While scarlet fever was ruled out in that instance, two isolated cases of hand, foot and mouth disease were suspected. However, some staff remain unconvinced.

Now, teachers at Gordon Walters are demanding greater transparency from health authorities. Pierre insisted that parents, staff, and the public deserve clear communication.

“There has to be some level of transparency in that if the health officials say it is not a particular thing, there has to be some confirmation to the public as to what it is. This is about the safety of children and those who teach them,” Pierre said. “We need clear, timely information and swift action to prevent panic and protect everyone involved.”

As investigations continue, the BUT is urging parents to be extra cautious.

“We’re asking parents during this time to be vigilant as to the status of their children,” Pierre advised. “Check their skin and so on, make sure that they’re feeling fine. You know that within the school environment, there are many different viruses and bacteria that will pass throughout the school year.

“If you see anything that is irregular, seek medical attention… hopefully it is something that can be treated as soon as possible so there is no further spread of whatever it is that the child may be experiencing.”

The Ministry of Educational Transformation has confirmed that Gordon Walters Primary will remain closed until further notice, pending the outcome of medical investigations and a joint decision with the Ministry of Health.

The current school term ends on Thursday for students.

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb

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Public health nurses are working in “dangerous and unsanitary” conditions and facing rising threats to their safety, the Democratic Labour Party warned on Monday, as the party’s president called for urgent government action following attacks on nurses.

Senator Andre Worrell chided the administration for what he called “chronic mismanagement, political indifference, and failure to prioritise frontline workers who continue to work under dangerous and unsanitary conditions”.

In a media release, triggered by the recent attack on nurses at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Senator Worrell expressed concern over rising security threats faced by nurses and the lack of security provided for them.

“While they grapple with outbreaks and poor infrastructure, we have seen in recent weeks multiple attacks on nurses while travelling to and from work and at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital,” he said.

“We extend our support to the affected nurses and wish them a full recovery while calling on the government to ensure that counselling and security measures are provided without delay. Adequate security must also be deployed at healthcare facilities to protect both staff and patients.”

Senator Worrell said the situation is “particularly dire” at the Psychiatric Hospital, “where nurse-to-patient ratios have fallen well below international standards due to staff shortages and government austerity.”

“Current staffing levels reportedly see a mere three nurses attending to as many as 54 to 60 patients per ward, with no on-site security present to assist in emergencies. This not only endangers nurses but also places patients at risk and makes it impossible to deliver quality care,” he admitted.

Senator Worrell also addressed the recent outbreak at St Bernard’s Primary School–which health officials suspect is hand, foot and mouth disease–which resulted in the closure of the school for two days last week.

He called for more openness from health authorities: “This approach to public health management must change. We urge the Chief Medical Officer and the Ministry of Health to commit to a transparent approach with timely updates and clear communication to the public, not secrecy and public relations.”

Senator Worrell also urged the ministry to “abandon its top-down defensive approach and instead embrace a culture of inclusion, feedback, and openness. Nurses, patients, and communities must have a voice in shaping the future of healthcare. Ignoring these has led us to this crisis.”

He said the DLP remains steadfast in its commitment to “defending healthcare workers, promoting patient-centred reform, and restoring a system in which health is a right, not a privilege, and certainly not a political afterthought.” (LG)

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Caribbean health leaders are to call on CARICOM heads of government at their summit to step up their global advocacy on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health, warning that the region is falling dangerously behind international targets as the crisis intensifies.

With the two-day summit — the 49th regular meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community — to get underway in Jamaica from Sunday, the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) issued a call for the leaders to reaffirm their legacy of action on NCDs by attending the upcoming fourth United Nations high-level meeting (HLM4) on NCDs and mental health.

That meeting, scheduled for September 25 in New York during the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, will be held under the theme, Equity and Integration: Transforming Lives and Livelihoods through Leadership and Action on Noncommunicable Diseases and the Promotion of Mental Health and Well-being”.

In an open letter and appeal to CARICOM leaders ahead of the summit, HCC President Dr Kenneth Connell called the moment “critical”, noting that the Caribbean continues to suffer disproportionately from NCDs such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancers, chronic respiratory conditions, and mental illness.

He said: “As unnecessary death and disability continue to rise, so do the associated costs of preventing and controlling these diseases which place a significant burden on the limited economic resources of CARICOM states – a crisis worsened by the impact of food and nutrition insecurity and climate-related disasters. Within the context of ageing and contracting populations and increasing economic and climate vulnerabilities, bold action on NCDs focusing equally on prevention and treatment and care is critical to promoting a secure and sustainable future for the Caribbean.”

The HCC head warned that the 2024 Port of Spain Grid and the 2025 WHO Progress Monitor both paint a stark and disturbing picture — the Caribbean is nowhere close to achieving global targets, including Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.4, which aims to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one-third by 2030.

The coalition, according to Dr Connell, sought to remind leaders of the region’s historic role in elevating NCDs on the global health agenda. In 2007, CARICOM heads adopted the Port of Spain Declaration, laying the groundwork for the first UN high-level meeting on NCDs in 2011. Several CARICOM heads of government were in attendance, giving voice to the Caribbean’s commitment to the issue.

Among the key asks from the HCC are: an explicit commitment from CARICOM leaders to attend the HLM4 and include it in the final communiqué of the forty-ninth regular meeting; endorsement of twelve regional NCD and mental health advocacy priorities led by Caribbean civil society; greater community engagement and investment in sustainable, rights-based approaches to health system strengthening; and leadership in hosting a high-level side event at HLM4 and ensuring representation from youth and people living with NCDs in official country delegations.

Dr Connell stressed that this is not just a health issue but a development imperative.

He said: “CARICOM has been globally recognised for its leadership on NCDs, including most recently with the 2023 Bridgetown Declaration on NCDs and Mental Health. As member states meet in New York on September 25, 2025 for the HLM4, let us collectively demonstrate the leadership of CARICOM. Now is the time to lead again.”  (SB)

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Three nurses at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital were attacked by a patient wielding a sharp object early on Wednesday, in the second violent incident targeting the nursing community in less than a month, prompting renewed calls for urgent action to protect healthcare staff.

The female patient had the object concealed before she attacked the nurses, who received immediate medical and psychological support, the hospital’s communications specialist Shane Sealy confirmed. 

While the injuries were not life-threatening, the incident sparked renewed concerns over the safety of healthcare professionals both inside and outside medical facilities. 

The Barbados Nurses Association (BNA) urged health authorities to install panic buttons on all hospital wards and conduct a comprehensive review of security protocols. 

“And to the public,” BNA President Dr Fay Parris said in a strong appeal, “stop the violence against nurses. They care for you. Let’s care for them.”

“We also urge nurses to take proactive steps to protect themselves. Over the past two weeks, BNA has started facilitating the provision of self-defence sessions and ‘Safety First’ webinars—both eligible for continuing education credits. BNA invites all nurses, nursing personnel and nursing students to make use of this opportunity to learn the skills to protect themselves.” 

The latest attack comes just weeks after a nurse was assaulted near the St Philip District Hospital. The BNA had raised serious concerns then—and is now intensifying its calls for stronger protections.

A BNA team visited QEH in the aftermath of Wednesday’s incident and spoke to injured nurses, according to Dr Parris, who said the BNA was assured the matter is under investigation, that immediate safety steps have been taken, and that counselling is being arranged.

In light of mounting concerns from nurses, the association has invited the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health and officials to a virtual town hall this week to address safety challenges. It is awaiting confirmation of the meeting’s date and time.

After the latest incident, the QEH issued a statement saying that the staff who were attacked, and others present at the time were understandably shaken by the event. 

“Immediate medical attention and psychological support were offered to all affected personnel. The matter is being reviewed by hospital management in collaboration with The Barbados Police Service, and QEH is providing full support to ensure all aspects of the incident are understood,” Sealy said.

QEH Chief Executive Officer Neil Clark added that the safety of staff, patients and visitors remains paramount.

He said: “We take this matter extremely seriously. The safety and well-being of our staff, patients, and visitors is always our top priority.”

Sealy added that as part of its routine commitment to continuous improvement, the hospital will use this incident “to reflect on and further refine existing safety procedures.”

Police Service spokesman Acting Inspector Ryan Brathwaite confirmed to Barbados TODAY that the incident had been reported to the police and investigations were under way. 

(SB)

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A pioneering partnership between the University of the West Indies (UWI) and global pharmaceutical firm EarlyHealth Group (EHG) is set to transform the diagnosis and treatment of inherited diseases across the Caribbean, offering new hope to thousands living with conditions such as sickle cell anaemia, certain cancers and metabolic disorders.

The two organisations have joined forces to enhance clinical research and genetic testing in the region, with a focus on identifying the root causes of illnesses that disproportionately affect Caribbean people.

The initiative will also support the development of a biobank – a large repository of genetic material – to help scientists study how these diseases impact people of Caribbean descent.

Dr Damian Cohall, UWI Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, described the partnership as a significant step in building the region’s capacity for health research.

“EarlyHealth will not only support upgrades to our labs and help with regulatory training, but also give our researchers more tools to conduct studies that matter to our people,” Cohall said.

Shaquille Williams, EHG’s director of business development for the Caribbean, said the company was eager to work with UWI to open up new opportunities.

“We’re bringing our global network to support the research that UWI is already doing so well, and to help push Caribbean health priorities forward,” he said.

The partnership was supported by the Barbados Embassy in the United Arab Emirates and is being seen as an example of how international cooperation can help small countries tackle major health challenges.

The long-term goal is to improve diagnosis and treatment through precision medicine, officials said, describing it as an approach that uses genetic information to guide healthcare decisions.

They further expressed hopes that the partnership and the initiative will position Barbados and the wider region as contributors to global medical research. (SM)

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Thirty-six students from The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus are now officially doctors after completing the five-year medical programme with the best results in recent years.

The new graduates took the Hippocratic Oath on Thursday during a ceremony at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Auditorium.

Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Dr. Damian Cohall, said 36 of the 37 students passed the final clinical exams, while another was granted a medical exemption.

Fourteen earned honours and four received distinctions, figures he described as among the highest the faculty has seen in the last five years. (SM)

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Barbadians now have a new comprehensive healthcare option with the opening of Bayview Laboratory at the new Bayview Urgent Care. Previously located on George Street in Belleville, Bayview Lab has joined its sister companies, Diagnostic Radiology Services and Bayview Hospital, to provide complete, patient-centered care under one roof.

Bayview Urgent Care, along with its laboratory and diagnostic radiology departments, is now open to the public with phased operating hours. In June, it will operate daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., extending to midnight in July and transitioning to a full 24-hour service by August.

Well known across Barbados for its HPV and STI-4 self-collection kits, Bayview Lab has expanded its diagnostic capabilities to include a broad range of new tests. These include liver and kidney function tests, prenatal and thyroid panels, as well as screenings for colorectal, ovarian, prostate, and other types of cancer. In addition, the laboratory has enhanced its STI testing services to screen for Hepatitis B and C, Herpes Simplex Virus Types 1 and 2, Syphilis, and HIV (including both antibody and antigen testing).

Medical Laboratory Director, Dr Lyndon Waterman, described this expansion as phase one of the lab’s broader rollout.

“Our goal is to serve as a comprehensive health partner by equipping physicians with the diagnostic tools they need to provide exceptional care. As part of this effort, we will be introducing phlebotomy services starting July 1, 2025, allowing walk-in patients to access lab services more easily,” he explained.

At the official opening ceremony of Bayview Urgent Care, Hospital Administrator Jules Reid announced a significant new partnership between Bayview Labs and the international genetics firm, CariGenetics.

“We are thrilled to announce that Bayview Labs has partnered with CariGenetics to offer advanced genetic testing. With these tests, you will have access to Paternity tests, a cancer risk profile, your risk for developing kidney disease, and also a drug profile that guides your clinical team as to which medications will work best for you. These can be especially helpful for supporting mental health.”

Bayview Laboratory’s new home at Bayview Urgent Care marks an essential step in making quality healthcare more accessible to the community. With extended operating hours, a wider range of tests available and exciting new partnerships, the lab is ensuring that Barbadians have access to the quality healthcare they need, when they need it most.

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