Carib Scope

分类： health

  • Medische Zending-poli Coeroeni officieel geopend

    Medische Zending-poli Coeroeni officieel geopend

    In a significant advancement for rural healthcare infrastructure, Suriname’s Minister of Health, Welfare, and Labor André Misiekaba officially inaugurated the Medical Mission polyclinic in the southwestern village of Coeroeni on Monday. The ceremony marks a transformative development for residents of Coeroeni and surrounding communities who will now receive structured primary healthcare services and guaranteed medication access.

    The opening ceremony witnessed the presence of key officials including VWA Director Rakesh Gajadar Sukul and Medical Mission Director Herman Jintie, alongside traditional leadership figures including the granman of Sipaliwini, local captains, and community representatives.

    Minister Misiekaba emphasized that personal visits to interior villages are essential for understanding the actual healthcare needs of the population. “Policy cannot be created solely from behind a desk but must align with on-the-ground realities,” the minister stated, according to the Health Ministry.

    The ministry has established a sustainable arrangement through collaboration between Medical Mission and the State Health Fund ensuring consistent medication supply to the polyclinic. This system guarantees drug availability not only for Coeroeni but also for neighboring villages, addressing a critical gap in remote healthcare delivery.

    Misiekaba further highlighted that traditional authorities can directly approach the ministry when medical challenges arise within their communities. The improvement of interior healthcare services represents a cornerstone of government policy under President Jennifer Simons’ leadership.

    The operationalization of this polyclinic constitutes a major stride in strengthening basic healthcare services in this region of Suriname, demonstrating the government’s commitment to equitable healthcare distribution across all geographical areas.

  • Carriacou commissions historic oxygen generation bank

    Carriacou commissions historic oxygen generation bank

    The Princess Royal Hospital on Carriacou has transformed its healthcare capabilities through the inauguration of a groundbreaking on-site oxygen generation bank, ending the island’s dependence on imported medical oxygen. This strategic infrastructure development addresses a critical vulnerability in the region’s healthcare system that previously required hazardous sea transport of oxygen cylinders from mainland Grenada—a process plagued by cost inefficiencies and logistical uncertainties.

    The newly operational facility guarantees a continuous, reliable supply of medical-grade oxygen for critically ill patients, fundamentally enhancing emergency response capabilities and routine medical care. Clinical staff have hailed the development as a revolutionary advancement in patient treatment protocols, particularly for respiratory emergencies and surgical procedures.

    During the commissioning ceremony, Hon. Tevin Andrews, Minister for Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs, acknowledged the collaborative efforts of the OECS Commission, Direct Relief, and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Minister Andrews contextualized the oxygen bank within his broader modernization agenda for Carriacou, which recently included water storage and desalination infrastructure upgrades in Belair. “This achievement marks a definitive end to our reliance on oxygen transportation from Grenada,” Minister Andrews declared. “We’re establishing self-sufficient systems to produce medical oxygen locally, ensuring healthcare sovereignty for our community.”

    The event gathered prominent figures from national healthcare and disaster management sectors. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Shawn Charles elaborated on how the oxygen generation facility aligns with Grenada’s comprehensive strategy to upgrade remote medical services. Meanwhile, Health Disaster Management Officer Kathy-Ann Morain provided technical insights into the project’s implementation, emphasizing its role in fortifying the island’s resilience against future health crises and natural disasters.

    Dr. Roxanne Brizan-St Martin, Programme Director for Health, Social Inclusion, and Social Protection at the OECS Commission, highlighted the regional significance of the development. The facility represents one of nine infrastructure enhancements delivered through the OECS-Direct Relief Enhancing Health Infrastructure and Resilience (EHR) Project, strengthening healthcare capabilities across the Eastern Caribbean.

    From a clinical standpoint, Dr. Karla McDonald, House Officer at Princess Royal Hospital, emphasized the practical implications for medical staff. The immediate availability of locally produced oxygen significantly improves emergency response effectiveness and elevates the standard of daily patient care, particularly in critical situations where oxygen therapy is immediately required.

  • Acting Principal Nursing Officer Almarie Coates Represents Ministry of Health at Regional Primary Health Care Meeting in Brazil

    Acting Principal Nursing Officer Almarie Coates Represents Ministry of Health at Regional Primary Health Care Meeting in Brazil

    Health authorities from across the Americas gathered in Rio de Janeiro from January 26-28, 2026, for a pivotal regional summit aimed at accelerating healthcare system reforms. The Second High-Level Regional Meeting of the Primary Health Care Alliance for the Americas brought together over 200 delegates from 24 nations, including ministers of health, principal nursing officers, and directors of primary health services.

    The conference, jointly organized by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the World Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), featured prominent attendees such as PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa and Assistant Director Dr. Rhonda Sealy Thomas. Representing the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Civil Service Affairs & the Environment was Acting Principal Nursing Officer Mrs. Almarie Coates.

    Central to the discussions was the theme “Primary Health Care as an Accelerator of Health System Transformation in the Americas.” Participants conducted a comprehensive review of progress achieved since the Alliance’s establishment in Montevideo, Uruguay in December 2023. The meeting served as a strategic platform for knowledge exchange, collaborative learning, and policy alignment among health ministries, technical partners, and financial institutions.

    Key objectives included evaluating national implementation pathways for primary healthcare as a catalyst for system-wide transformation, sharing innovative approaches that demonstrate improved healthcare access, outcomes, and operational efficiency, assessing the Alliance’s progress in meeting its objectives while strengthening regional cooperation, and reaffirming the Alliance’s strategic value while securing renewed commitments from members to deepen collaborative action.

    The Alliance represents a unique regional mechanism designed to accelerate primary healthcare implementation through targeted investment and innovation. Its core mission remains supporting member countries in transforming their health systems through coordinated policy guidance and harmonized investment planning.

  • Ghanaian nurses begin two-week orientation at Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre

    Ghanaian nurses begin two-week orientation at Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre

    ST. JOHN’S, Antigua — A cohort of healthcare professionals from Ghana has commenced a comprehensive two-week orientation program at Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, marking a significant step in Antigua and Barbuda’s initiative to reinforce its public health infrastructure. The structured onboarding process, which launched Monday under the guidance of hospital authorities, is specifically designed to equip the newly recruited nurses with essential clinical competencies and facilitate their seamless integration into the national healthcare framework.

    The orientation curriculum, developed and administered by the hospital’s Learning and Development and Human Resources divisions, encompasses intensive training modules on clinical standards, professional ethics, and interdisciplinary collaboration within Antigua’s health system. Health Minister Sir Molwyn Joseph personally inaugurated the program alongside senior ministry officials and executive management representatives from the medical center, underscoring the government’s commitment to this staffing enhancement initiative.

    Hospital administration emphasized that this recruitment drive represents a strategic response to address staffing requirements and elevate service quality at the nation’s primary public medical facility. The orientation process aims to familiarize the Ghanaian nurses with institutional protocols, operational procedures, and workplace expectations while ensuring their preparedness for direct patient care responsibilities. This international collaboration reflects broader efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery through targeted workforce expansion and knowledge exchange between Commonwealth nations.

  • FOAM president says celebrate your birthday by donating blood

    FOAM president says celebrate your birthday by donating blood

    The Bahamas is confronting a severe blood supply crisis that has prompted urgent public health appeals and innovative community mobilization efforts. Khandi Gibson, president of Families of All Murder Victims (FOAM), has initiated a distinctive campaign challenging citizens to commemorate their birthdays by donating blood rather than seeking material gifts. This initiative emerges against a backdrop of daily circulation of flyers pleading for blood donations for patients across age groups.

    Gibson advocates for transforming birthday celebrations into opportunities for lifesaving contributions, suggesting visits to Princess Margaret Hospital, Doctors Hospital, or the Blood Bank with family and friends. ‘Instead of looking for money or worldly gain, celebrate your birthday by allowing somebody else to celebrate theirs,’ she emphasized, revealing her personal commitment to annual blood donation.

    The urgency of this initiative was highlighted through Gibson’s recollection of a tragic case where despite public appeals, a woman’s mother succumbed to her condition due to insufficient blood availability. This experience underscores the critical nature of sustained donation efforts.

    Health authorities across the archipelago have amplified concerns regarding dangerously low blood reserves. Rand Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahama and Princess Margaret Hospital in Nassau report struggling to maintain adequate supplies amidst rising demand. In March 2025, Grand Bahama Health Services issued emergency appeals as transfusion requirements increasingly outpaced available donations.

    Adelecia Campbell, administrative manager at Grand Bahama Health Services, confirmed that the hospital’s blood bank has been overwhelmed by request volumes, forcing staff to utilize social media for urgent public appeals during critical patient situations. Claudia Glinton, laboratory manager, revealed that collected blood units are typically utilized within one week—significantly before their 35-day expiration period—due to constant demand from multiple medical departments.

    Patients requiring regular transfusions include those battling kidney disease, cancer, anemia, and women experiencing childbirth complications. Health officials continue stressing that consistent donor participation is essential for maintaining supplies for both emergency situations and routine medical treatments, urging all eligible donors to contribute regularly to this vital community resource.

  • Column: Onze gezondheid begint bij onszelf: de strijd tegen chikungunya

    Column: Onze gezondheid begint bij onszelf: de strijd tegen chikungunya

    Suriname faces a mounting public health crisis as chikungunya virus resurges after more than a decade, exposing critical failures in environmental management and community responsibility. The Aedes aegypti mosquito—known vector for multiple diseases—is thriving in urban areas due to widespread accumulation of discarded containers and stagnant water sources.

    Health authorities have launched emergency response measures, including targeted waste collection in neighborhoods reporting the highest infection rates. This intervention comes as citizens experience characteristic symptoms including high fever and severe joint pain, creating significant healthcare pressures.

    Historical context reveals a concerning regression: previously effective environmental inspection systems that methodically documented household compliance with sanitation standards have gradually eroded. While the environmental service department remains operational, its enforcement capabilities have diminished over time despite the growing threat.

    The current outbreak underscores a painful reality that environmental cleanliness constitutes the first line of defense against vector-borne diseases. Each improperly discarded plastic bottle and abandoned container serves as potential breeding ground for mosquitoes, which require minimal water for reproduction.

    Public health experts emphasize that government action alone cannot resolve the crisis. Community participation is essential—from reporting illegal dumping to maintaining clean residential surroundings. The article calls for renewed social accountability, urging citizens to confront neighbors whose negligent practices endanger collective wellbeing.

    This health emergency demonstrates the inseparable connection between environmental stewardship and disease prevention. Sustainable solutions require cultural shift toward recognizing that public health begins with individual responsibility for maintaining clean streets, yards, and communities.

  • Health : MSF warns of the extent of sexual violence in Port-au-Prince (Report)

    Health : MSF warns of the extent of sexual violence in Port-au-Prince (Report)

    A disturbing new report from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) documents an alarming escalation of sexual violence being systematically employed as a tool of terror against the population of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The comprehensive analysis, titled “Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Port-au-Prince,” reveals that incidents have nearly tripled since 2021, with monthly admissions at MSF’s specialized Pran Men’m clinic surging from approximately 95 cases to over 250 by 2025.

    The findings, drawn from a decade of medical data and victim testimonies, paint a harrowing picture of deliberate brutality. Since 2022, 57% of patients reported assaults perpetrated by armed groups, frequently involving gang rape scenarios. Shockingly, more than one hundred victims described being attacked by ten or more assailants simultaneously.

    Women and girls across all age groups are being targeted, with displaced individuals particularly vulnerable due to their precarious living situations. The report indicates nearly 20% of treated patients have endured multiple assaults, highlighting the cyclical nature of the violence.

    Critical healthcare access remains severely compromised, with only one-third of survivors reaching the clinic within the crucial 72-hour window for HIV prevention. Additionally, 59% arrive after five days, missing opportunities to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Systemic barriers including fear of stigmatization, financial constraints, security concerns, and information gaps prevent victims from seeking timely care.

    MSF’s Head of Mission in Haiti, Diana Manilla Arroyo, emphasized the urgent need for increased funding and recognition of sexual violence as a deliberate weapon of control. The organization calls for guaranteed free access to comprehensive medical and psychosocial support services for survivors amid Haiti’s collapsing infrastructure and deteriorating living conditions.

  • Ministry Of Health Concludes Cervical Cancer Awareness Month With Church Service And Call To Empower Survivors

    Ministry Of Health Concludes Cervical Cancer Awareness Month With Church Service And Call To Empower Survivors

    The Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment, and Civil Service Affairs has formally concluded Cervical Cancer Awareness Month with a spiritually significant ceremony at All Saints Pentecostal Kingdom Life Centre on February 1st. The event symbolized a unified national pledge toward enhancing prevention mechanisms, promoting early detection protocols, and fundamentally empowering those who have overcome the disease.

    Distinguished attendees included prominent faith leaders, healthcare experts, cervical cancer survivors, and key partners. The gathering featured Minister Sir Molwyn Joseph, Permanent Secretary Stacey Gregg-Paige, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kamaria DeCastro, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Teri-Ann Joseph, and Dr. Cherrie Tulloch, who leads the Cervical Cancer Elimination Task Force alongside her specialized team and additional senior technical personnel.

    In his keynote address, Minister Joseph expounded on the month’s thematic focus—”Empower the Survivors”—stressing that true empowerment must evolve from mere awareness into tangible national responsibility and decisive action. “Our assembly in this sacred space marks not just the conclusion of an awareness month, but a reaffirmation of our collective dedication to dignity, prevention, compassion, and the preservation of life,” he declared.

    Minister Joseph drew parallels to a biblical account from the Gospel of John, citing the transformation of the woman of Samaria following her encounter with Jesus. He emphasized how she transitioned from personal survival to public service, illustrating a powerful metaphor for patient advocacy. “Rather than retreating into silence, she returned to her community with a message of hope. This embodies the transformation from survival to purposeful service, from personal experience to influential leadership.”

    The Minister articulated that this narrative aligns with the Ministry’s public health strategy, positioning survivors as essential collaborators in prevention, education, and systemic transformation. “Survivors are not passive recipients of care; they are active partners whose voices diminish stigma, whose narratives enhance awareness, whose visibility promotes screening, and whose leadership safeguards future generations,” he affirmed.

    He further elaborated that empowering survivors constitutes a strategic imperative that reinforces prevention infrastructures, facilitates early detection, and cultivates trust in healthcare services. The Ministry recommitted to expanding access to HPV vaccination, enhancing screening and diagnostic capabilities, ensuring equitable treatment options, delivering comprehensive survivor support, and upholding dignity throughout healthcare experiences.

    “No woman should endure a preventable disease, no family should suffer loss due to delayed detection, and no survivor should navigate post-treatment life without adequate support,” Minister Joseph asserted.

    In closing, he issued a compelling appeal for collaborative engagement across religious institutions, communities, and the nation to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health threat and to recognize survivors as indispensable partners in forging a healthier future. The Ministry continues to urge women and girls to utilize screening services and HPV vaccinations available at public health clinics nationwide, reinforcing the national strategy toward cervical cancer elimination.

  • EU agency proposes toxin dose limits in powdered milk

    EU agency proposes toxin dose limits in powdered milk

    ROME — In a landmark move to safeguard child health, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has announced the first scientific benchmark for a dangerous toxin found in powdered milk products. The Italy-based agency established an acute reference dose (ARfD) of 0.014 micrograms of cereulide per kilogram of body weight for infants.

    This decision comes amid a massive global recall initiative affecting over 60 countries, including France, where major manufacturers like Nestle, Danone, and Lactalis have pulled products from shelves since December. The newly proposed safety thresholds specify that concentrations exceeding 0.054 micrograms per liter in infant formula or 0.1 micrograms per liter in follow-on formula could surpass safe consumption levels.

    EFSA clarified that its scientific opinion provides EU risk managers with critical guidance to determine when products should be withdrawn from the market as a precautionary public health measure. The toxin cereulide, produced by certain bacteria, is known to cause severe digestive problems including vomiting and diarrhea according to health authorities.

    The regulatory action follows tragic developments in France where two infant deaths prompted criminal investigations after consumption of formula recalled by Nestle due to possible bacterial contamination. However, the French health ministry emphasized that no definitive causal link has been established between the deaths and the contaminated products.

    The European Commission specifically tasked EFSA with creating this safety standard following the escalating international incident, marking a significant step toward unified food safety protocols across member states.

  • INSIGHT: The other (secret) drug war

    INSIGHT: The other (secret) drug war

    A dangerous pharmaceutical grey market is flourishing throughout the Bahamas, where prescription medications are routinely dispensed without prescriptions, proper medical oversight, or regard for patient safety. Through extensive investigative operations spanning from August 2025 to January 2026, evidence reveals that powerful antibiotics, pain relievers, abortion pills, and even unregulated cosmetic products enter the country through official ports of entry despite customs enforcement efforts.

    The distribution network operates with alarming openness, with undercover operatives obtaining prescription drugs from numerous pharmacies without presenting prescriptions or medical documentation. In multiple instances, pharmacy personnel not only provided requested medications but recommended stronger alternatives and even accommodated customer price negotiations. This unregulated exchange occurs primarily through incremental smuggling via travelers who conceal pharmaceuticals within benign packaging such as spice containers.

    Chief Pharmacist Dr. Gina Archer of the Ministry of Health and Wellness identifies outdated legislation as the root cause, noting that the Bahamas lacks a national drug registration system. This regulatory vacuum prevents effective oversight of medicines imported from unauthorized sources, particularly those originating from unverified manufacturers in India, Pakistan, Mexico, and China.

    The situation is compounded by alleged conflicts of interest within the regulatory framework. The Bahamas Pharmacy Council, comprised predominantly of practicing pharmacists, functions as a self-policing body with insufficient resources for proper enforcement. Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr. Michael Darville acknowledges the decades-old problem requires urgent legislative reform, particularly citing concerns about antimicrobial resistance from improper antibiotic distribution.

    The impending Medical Products Bill promises to modernize the pharmaceutical regulatory system by establishing clear authority over medicine importation, distribution, and violation penalties. However, Bahamas Pharmaceutical Association President Dr. Marvin Smith emphasizes that any effective legislation must include generic medications and provide adequate enforcement resources, including independent inspectors rather than the current part-time pharmacists who inspect their competitors.

    Customs Comptroller Ralph Munroe notes that while customs officials intercept non-English labeled medications in quantities exceeding personal use, the profitability of this $100 billion global counterfeit drug market continues to outweigh public health concerns, creating a quiet drug war fought in medicine cabinets rather than alleyways across the archipelago.