Santo Domingo.- The Executive Director of the National Institute for the Protection of Consumer Rights (Pro Consumidor), Eddy Alcántara, announced on Thursday that the initial laboratory studies conducted by the institution on a dozen rice brands sold in the country revealed no presence of harmful metals detrimental to people’s health.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Pro Consumidor headquarters, Alcántara assured that these studies provide assurance that the rice consumed in the Dominican Republic poses no health risks to consumers.

The official elaborated that these laboratory examinations were prompted by complaints appearing in various media outlets alleging contamination of rice with heavy metals like mercury, copper, arsenic, and lead. “However, such concerns have been dispelled by the findings of these studies, which we are disclosing today,” he emphasized in a press release.

Alcántara clarified that the tests encompassed several domestic and imported rice brands sourced from supermarkets, grocery stores, warehouses, and other establishments. “This initial study of the marketed brands in the country ensures peace of mind and food sovereignty,” he added.

As the market surveillance authority, Alcántara affirmed that upon receiving reports from certain media outlets, they promptly collected samples for laboratory analysis. “As soon as we obtained these initial results, we are sharing them with the public,” he affirmed.

He asserted Pro Consumidor’s commitment to conducting further tests on other rice brands available in the national market until a comprehensive review is completed. Alcántara reiterated that if the presence of heavy metals is detected in any other rice brands, the responsible parties will face sanctions, and the product will be removed from the market, in accordance with consumer protection law 358-05.

He underscored that the regulations stipulate that “products and services must be supplied or provided in such a manner that, when consumed or used under normal or foreseeable conditions, they do not pose any danger, harmfulness, or unforeseen risks to the health and safety of the consumer or user.”

Santo Domingo – The Dominican Republic managed a donation of 3,600 cm2 of Liolized Human Skin Tissue, donated by the Government of Mexico, to be used in caring for patients admitted to Dr. Thelma Rosario’s burn unit.

These are minors affected by severe burns during an explosion at the Salcedo carnival a week ago. This action will improve the health of patients who remain in critical condition and are admitted to the intensive care unit at the Arturo Grullón Regional Children’s Hospital in Santiago. The management was carried out through the Ministry of Public Health in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MIREX), the National Health Service (SNS), the National Institute for Transplant Coordination (INCORT), and the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Mexico.

The coordination was made with the Ministry of Health, the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks, and the Authorization Commission of Mexico. The liquefied tissues were transported by the airline Aeromexico and guarded by the minister counselor, Orlando Rodriguez. They were received by the Regional Director of North Central Health, Dr. Manuel Lora, and the referred health center authorities.

This type of freeze-dried tissue is used as a temporary cover for wounds caused by burns, diabetic ulcers, varicose veins, decubitus, leprosy, and others.

Current situation
Until yesterday afternoon, the four minors admitted to the Robert Reid Cabral Hospital were taken to the conventional operating room area to be treated. Although this hospital has no burn area, care is being maximized.

Of the seven minors who were admitted to the burn unit of the Arturo Grullón hospital, one was discharged, two died, and four are in critical health conditions. The information was given by Dr. Yocasta Lara, Director of Hospitals of the National Health Service. A state of mourning and grief affected the community of Salcedo, as 19 people were injured with burns.

According to the Ministry of Public Health authorities, last year, the Dominican Republic ended with 24,735 cases and 23 deaths due to the disease transmitted by the bite of the infected Aedes aegypty mosquito.

The expert recalled that there is a very high viral load in the country, which implies many infected mosquitoes. For dengue cases to occur, a vector must specify that the mosquitoes did not disappear; they are still there. However, the population decreased, but as there is such a high viral load and so many viruses in human reservoirs that are still circulating, only a tiny population is needed for the disease to be transmitted.

Interviewed by Héctor Herrera Cabral in the program D’AGENDA, which is broadcast every Sunday on Telesistema Channel 11 and TV Quisqueya for the United States, the expert explained that it is estimated that in dengue-endemic countries, 85% of the population does not have clinical manifestations of the disease.

He added that that implies that if the Dominican Republic was seeing many symptomatic people at the end of last year, it means that only 15% of the entire population was being seen to be infected, and that is why the controversy of whether the Ministry of Public Health is telling the truth regarding the infections, but it can never tell it because you only know that a patient has dengue when they present the symptoms of the disease.

“It is very similar; we are going to have fewer probabilities, fewer cases, but we are going to have many cases of dengue, very similar to last year,” responded virologist Robert Paulino when questioned about the behavior of dengue for 2024.

He argued that “firstly because last year’s trend was to generate a permanence of a continuous viral load, and secondly, that the climatic factors are not going to disappear.”

“Because now we are experiencing the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, which is what happened in South America, Brazil currently has many cases that, although it is true that they have begun to distribute a vaccine, it does not represent anything that will change the trend, that is, that you will have a co-circulation of the virus in the population,” said the doctor.

He maintained that this is why the Pan American Health Organization’s alert is because this year, the indicators are identical or worse than those of 2023 from the climatic point of view because, although it may seem a cliché, every year it is reported that temperatures are higher than those of the previous year. Still, this is indeed happening.

“2024 is not visualized to be different from 2023, from the point of view of factors, and that potentiates the issue of dengue and, in addition, as type 3 was introduced last year, type 4, which we have not had that dengue for seven or eight years, at least in the genetic record of identifications, in the present year, because it is circulating in South America, which is now in summer, could enter the country because of human displacements,” he said.

Regarding the possibility of the Dominican Republic having a vaccine against dengue, Dr. Robert Paulino considers it very remote that it will be ready to be applied this year, and it would be necessary to wait until 2025 for it to become a reality.

Paulino warns that tourism is an element of risk for introducing new pathogens.

Roberto Paulino, a renowned researcher of tropical diseases at the Universidad Iberoamericana, warned that tourism is a risk factor for introducing new pathogens.

“I know that at the governmental level it looks bad to say it, but we have to understand that tourism is an element of risk for the introduction of new pathogens, it is not wrong to understand it, what we have to do is to armor ourselves,” said Dr. Paulino Ramirez when he was interviewed in the program D’AGENDA.

He insisted that “what we have to do is to take care of our borders, and not only the air borders, but also the land borders, because there is a country with which we share the island that does not have control of its territory, and we even have to watch over that.”

“That is to say, here we still have elements in the elimination agenda such as the case of malaria, which depends strictly on the climatic factors as well, because it is transmitted just like dengue, with another type of mosquito, and although it is said that it is more rural, those who live in the South are Dominicans just like us, and therefore we must take care of all our population,” warned the doctor.

He clarified that “these are elements that, more than feeling them as an attack, should call our attention to the importance of looking at ourselves and determining how our epidemiological system works, how sensitive we are being at the moment of understanding the signals and, in addition, understanding that epidemiological surveillance includes, today, elements as simple as social networks.”

“People already write things and say things, in the media there is already such a high democratization of information that anywhere we have television channels and journalists that do not necessarily reach the traditional media, but those media are the ones that give us the alerts, and that is public health, not the institution as such, but public health as a concept, that is where we have to see ourselves in a more integrated way,” he said.

There is an urgent need for an awareness campaign on measles because it kills and is transmitted very quickly.

According to Dr. Robert Paulino Ramirez, a specialist in viral diseases, the only way Latin American countries can avoid the appearance of cases and possible outbreaks of measles is by increasing vaccination.

“In fact, the only alert of international importance that is still open is measles, and the only way we can prevent an outbreak or an onset of cases in Latin America is by increasing vaccination,” reiterated Dr. Ramirez Paulino.

He called attention that from 2020 to 2022, the Dominican Republic experienced a 15% reduction in vaccination coverage. However, he does not know the data for 2023 to see if that situation could be reversed.

“Measles needs at least 99% of children born or living in the Dominican Republic to be vaccinated, we have to carry out a very strong awareness campaign directed towards parents and guardians regarding the measles vaccine, because it is a disease that kills and is transmitted very quickly,” the physician warned when questioned about this disease on the D’AGENDA program.

He recalled the case of the Omicron variant of the Coronavirus that infected all the people in a house, “well, measles is like that, it is a disease that has a transmissibility rate of 16, that is, for every infected child, if there are 16 susceptible children, all of them will be infected.”

“So, if we want to prevent this phenomenon from occurring, we have to armor ourselves as a population, because the United States has already had several outbreaks, which means that it is right next to us,” urged Dr. Paulino.

He clarified that this is not only a responsibility of the state authorities through the Ministry of Public Health but also a duty of all people, mainly parents or guardians.

Santo Domingo – The director of the National Health Service (SNS), Mario Lama, delivered more than 29 million pesos in medical equipment for four hospitals of the Regional Metropolitan Health Service (SRSM) to strengthen the attention to the users who come to these centers.

The head of the SNS said that this equipment is part of Luis Abinader’s government plan to improve the quality of care for Dominicans. “We have to continue saving lives, which is the most important thing, to provide quality service in hospitals and that a patient should not be told there is no such thing when they arrive at a public health center.”

Dr. Mario Lama also highlighted that thanks to the constant interventions of remodeling, equipment, and appointment of new collaborators in the health centers, there has been an increase in services never seen before, “Since 2021,5 the amount of services that the Public Network has reported in January has never been reflected,” he emphasized.

Likewise, he called on the collaborators in all the benefited hospitals to make proper use of the equipment and translate it into services, the reinforcement of their centers.

Equipment delivered
The Darío Contreras Hospital received a vascular, orthopedic C-arm, and nine five-parameter vital monitors with a wall base for a total of RD$6,645,766.63.

The El Almirante Hospital received a medium-sized electric autoclave and a digital monopolar/bipolar electrosurgical scalpel with cart, valued at over one million pesos.

Likewise, the Ciudad Juan Bosch Hospital received a portable digital X-Ray with printer, two instrument trays (one for minor surgery and the other for IUD insertion), two examination couches with three positions, five wheelchairs for adults, a five-drawer file, two clinical office desks, four stackable metal chairs, two executive armchairs with P20 arm, two computers with UPS, a medical office display case and 15 computers complete with UPS, valued at 5.8 million pesos.

Meanwhile, Dr. Francisco Vicente Castro Sandoval Hospital (Hospital Nuevo de Boca Chica) received an echocardiograph, a three-channel adult pediatric electrocardiograph with cart, digital mammography, an intrauterine and cardio fetal activity monitor, three standard binocular microscopes, 25 five-section metal shelves, a placenta crusher, six instrument trays (three for minor surgery and three for IUD insertion) and three LED goose-neck examination lamps.

Also, seven three-position examination couches, three three-drawer files, a five-drawer metal file, four clinical office desks, a laboratory refrigerator (reagent), eight visitor’s chairs, four P20 executive chairs, ten C7 comfortable swivel chairs, a 42-inch LED television with wall base, three office display cases and 15 computers complete with UPS, with a total investment of RD$15,535,385.76.

The delivery of the equipment took place in the different hospitals. The directors of the SNS attended it, Alexander Ramírez of Infrastructure and Equipment and Yoany Arias of Clinical Laboratories and Medical Imaging, as well as Edisson Féliz Féliz, director of the SRS Metropolitano, the directors of the benefited health centers and collaborators.

Santo Domingo.- Ophthalmologist Judith Portorreal, specializing in keratoconus, dry eye, and contact lenses, has issued a warning about potential visual issues arising from temperature changes in the Dominican Republic.

The expert emphasized that the ongoing cold front and increased wind in the country are contributing to a rise in allergies and dry eyes among the population.

“We are witnessing an increase in the proliferation of mites and mold inside homes, leading to allergy symptoms. Simultaneously, outdoor exposure brings particles of dust, pollen, fungi, and bacteria carried by the wind, irritating the eyes and promoting tear evaporation, leading to infections,” she explained.

Portorreal highlighted that individuals experiencing rhinitis, sneezing, coughing, sore throat, and itchy eyes are likely undergoing an episode of eye allergy. She pointed out that if the eyes also feel burning, as if there is dirt, and appear red, it indicates a combination of allergy and dry eyes.

Moreover, the ophthalmologist noted that allergies can exacerbate dry eye symptoms, and conversely, dry eye can worsen allergy symptoms.

To mitigate these issues, the expert recommended wearing sunglasses outdoors for protection, frequent face washing, the use of artificial tears, and, if problems persist, seeking consultation with an ophthalmologist.

San Francisco de Macorís, DR.- The Ministry of Education of the Dominican Republic (Minerd), in collaboration with the Public Ministry, is currently investigating an incident involving 22 students and five teachers from the Max Henríquez Ureña school in the municipal district of Cenoví, Duarte province. The individuals experienced health problems following the fumigation of an area near the educational center.

To address this matter, personnel from the General Directorate of the School Police, along with educational authorities, conducted thorough surveys to ensure compliance with legal procedures.

The health issues arose around 9 in the morning during a mass celebrating Ash Wednesday. According to reports, students were the first to detect the presence of chemicals in the environment.

The preliminary report indicates that cases of students experiencing symptoms like dizziness and nausea were documented. Simultaneously, some teachers reported skin allergies and vomiting.

Jocelyn Jiménez Concepción, the campus director, along with the affected students and teachers, were promptly transported to various health centers in the vicinity. They received treatment and were subsequently discharged. The investigation is ongoing to determine the circumstances and address any potential implications in accordance with the law.

Santo Domingo—For several months, there has been an acute shortage of insulin in the country’s private pharmaceutical sector, especially one of the most widely used, type 70/30.

The situation has forced patients to go to the Instituto de la Diabetes (INDEN) and the Farmacias del Pueblo in search of the product, which still has a supply but is registering a high increase in demand.

This shortage is generating serious difficulties for patients with diabetes who require the use of insulin as an indispensable treatment for the control of their condition and who acquire the drug in the private sector, especially those with type 1 diabetes, who are insulin-dependent, as well as concern among endocrinologists and diabetologists.

The drug is also used by about 40% of patients who have type 2 diabetes, which is estimated to occupy 90% of the people living with this condition in the country, where studies indicate that about two million people live with diabetes or more than 13% of the Dominican population is affected by this condition of increased blood sugar.

The shortage of medicine in the private market and the difficulties for the supply were confirmed to Listín Diario by the president of the Dominican Society of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Sherezade Hazbún; the executive director of the Union of Pharmacies, Scarlet Sánchez; the director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Nutrition (INDEN), Ammar Ibrahim and the executive director of the Program of Essential Medicines (PROMESE/CAL), Adolfo Pérez and Arelys Mercedes, president of the Dominican Society of Diabetology.

They assured that the shortage of the product affects the private sector but that this does not occur with the hospitals of the Public Network that have maintained their rhythm of use without alteration, nor the People’s Pharmacies or the Diabetes Institute, since they have a stop of the medicine in stock due to their large volume purchase and long-term agreements with their international suppliers.

ARAPF EXPLAINS CAUSES
Regarding the problem, the Association of Representatives, Agents and Pharmaceutical Producers, Inc. (ARAPF) explained that currently, the global production of drugs related to glycemic control for insulin-dependent diabetic patients faces significant challenges in planning due to the shortage of an essential component for the manufacture of insulin, as a result of the increase in the number of patients with diabetes.

“This situation has resulted in a worldwide shortage of the product, recently affecting the Dominican Republic. This decrease in availability has been manifested mainly in the vial presentation, as it is the one most commonly used by the population; however, in the pencil type presentation the supply has been stable and has not presented any affectation in a general way”, affirms the entity in declarations offered to Listín Diario.

It points out that the relevant institutions have the necessary availability to respond to the immediate needs, and the pharmaceutical laboratories “which we represent assure to have shipments on the way, with availability to guarantee the access of this to the patients.”

The organism understands that “this feeling of shortage” should not be prolonged and that this type of medicine will be supplied regularly in the next few days, so it should not represent a significant situation for the Dominican healthcare system.

Likewise, when confirming the supply difficulties, Sanchez said that the Pharmacy Union does not know the causes of the problems that the laboratories or the industrial sector have in supplying the insulin demand that the pharmacies have, but that for months, they have been observing that when they receive the order, especially the insulin 70/30 units, it is immediately sold out in the chain of pharmacies that they represent.

SIX-MONTH SUPPLY
The PROMESE director also assured that the medicine is guaranteed in the Farmacias del Público and that they have enough of the product in stock for the next six months due to the planning done and the purchase agreements signed with suppliers.

“Even if the private sector were to run out completely, we at PROMESE have enough to guarantee insulins to patients for the next few months,” he said, recalling that worldwide there are difficulties because Ukraine is one of the leading suppliers of insulin and biosimilars in the world. It has been affected by the war with Russia.

USE IN COMBINATION
Ibrahim explained that the most significant shortage is observed in the 70/30, which is a mixture of the NPH human insulin 70 units of rapid insulin and 30 units, so if a patient runs out, he can go to his doctor and ask him to explain that he can take 70 of one and 30 of the other because it can be combined since the mixture was made to avoid the patient having two punctures at the same time.

He said that INDEN still has a drug supply and that the manufacturers promise new deliveries before the end of this month. He assured us that they have been supplying a large part of the patients who go there in search of the drug.

Diaz, who is a member of the Board of Reef Check, spoke of the quick and timely attention received by doctors Maritza Santana and Rafael de los Santos, assisted by nursing assistants Damaso Marte and Noelia Batista, along with the remote advice of his doctor Pedro Ivan Peralta.

“The care in the emergency was excellent. The personnel on the morning of January 24 took the correct steps,” Marcos Díaz indicated. The hospital’s director, Carolina Burgos, said that the center’s medical team frequently receives patients with stings and other injuries that arise in coastal areas.

Last Tuesday, January 24, after leaving the waters of La Boya, the athlete, Marcos Diaz, explained that he stepped on something with his right foot, which caused him severe pain. Initially, he thought it was a cut, but he quickly identified the spine pricks of the stonefish, a poisonous marine species known for its camouflage and lethal poison.

Knowing the risks, with urgency and the help of the surfing community in the area, the athlete acted quickly, submerging his foot in hot water to neutralize the poison. Díaz highlighted the immediate collaboration of the community, his friends, and the intervention of the health center doctors, which he defined as fundamental to addressing the situation efficiently and preserving the life of the outstanding Dominican swimmer. The stonefish, of rocky and camouflaged appearance, is recognized for its venomous spines capable of injecting a potent poison.

Santiago – A total of 22 patients were admitted yesterday for dengue fever at the Arturo Grullon Children’s Hospital in this city, of which three are in the intensive care unit but in stable condition.

Among those affected were a 17-year-old adolescent and other minors of 10 and 13 years of age who arrived at the hospital in delicate conditions.

The health center’s director, Dr. Mirna López, explained that so far this year there has been a decrease in the number of cases of the disease caused by mosquito bites.

Santo Domingo.- The Ministry of Public Health released its Wednesday update, revealing that the country has recorded 1,340 positive cases of COVID-19, with 10 individuals hospitalized “without major complications.”

In the latest weekly report, the agency highlighted the processing of 13,822 samples, emphasizing the robustness of the health system in confronting the coronavirus and its JN variant.

Remarkably, this marks the first time in weeks that Public Health reports hospitalizations due to COVID-19. Additionally, the previous week saw 986 cases, an increase of 193 compared to the week of January 3 to 10.

Encouragingly, no patients are currently in intensive care units (ICU) or on mechanical ventilation, underscoring the health system’s capacity to manage existing cases.

Public Health reiterated that the JN.1 variant is now identified as the predominant strain, present in 14 of the country’s 32 provinces.

Despite the challenges posed by new variants, the Dominican Republic’s epidemiological situation remains stable, attributed to citizen collaboration, the system’s strength, and the effective implementation of preventive measures.

The institution urged the public to stay informed through official sources and adhere to health recommendations to prevent further virus spread.

Since the onset of the pandemic, the Dominican Republic has confirmed 673,268 cases, resulting in 4,384 deaths, with no new fatalities reported since August 2022.