Carib Scope

分类： health

  • Selected Community Clinics Continue Extended Operating Hours, Ministry Reminds Public

    Selected Community Clinics Continue Extended Operating Hours, Ministry Reminds Public

    Residents of Antigua and Barbuda now have greater flexibility to access routine and urgent medical care after standard work hours, as the country’s Ministry of Health has confirmed that extended operating hours are already in place at two primary care facilities: the Grays Farm Health Centre and the Clare Hall Health Centre. This policy adjustment is part of a broader government push to upgrade public healthcare access and reduce systemic strain on emergency departments across the nation.

    Under the new permanent extended schedule, both health centers open their doors to patients at 8 a.m. daily and remain operational until 9 p.m., adding three extra hours of service beyond the traditional 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. primary care timetable. Ministry officials emphasized that this expansion addresses a long-standing gap for working residents who struggle to attend clinic appointments during standard business hours, eliminating the need for many to take unpaid time off work to access necessary care.

    A full range of general and urgent care services are available during the extended operating window. These include routine general medical consultations, acute wound management, care for lacerations, and treatment for common urgent conditions such as sudden asthma flare-ups, dehydration, viral and bacterial gastroenteritis. The facilities also provide urgent care for unmanaged chronic conditions, including uncontrolled hypertension and blood sugar spikes related to diabetes, helping patients avoid unnecessary trips to hospital emergency rooms.

    The rollout of extended hours is not stopping at these two locations. The Ministry of Health has announced that similar extended operating schedules are planned for two additional facilities — the Brownes Avenue Health Center and the Villa Polyclinic — with a launch date set for a future phase of the healthcare improvement initiative.

    In a statement, ministry leaders reaffirmed the government’s ongoing commitment to expanding equitable access to high-quality healthcare services for all communities across Antigua and Barbuda, framing extended primary care hours as a critical step toward strengthening the country’s overall public health system.

  • CARPHA Issues Update #2 on the Hantavirus Outbreak

    CARPHA Issues Update #2 on the Hantavirus Outbreak

    Nearly six weeks after a hantavirus outbreak was first detected on an international expedition cruise ship, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has released its second official guidance update for its 12 member states, including Belize, reassuring regional health authorities that the public health risk across the Caribbean remains low at this stage.

    The outbreak, which has been traced to the MV Hondius, a polar expedition vessel that set sail from Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1, has resulted in 11 confirmed cases and three fatalities to date. Of the 11 reported cases, eight have received formal laboratory confirmation. Affected passengers hold citizenship from a range of countries across North America and Europe, including the United States, France, Switzerland, Spain, the Netherlands, as well as South Africa. After completing its journey through isolated Antarctic and South Atlantic routes, the vessel docked in Tenerife, Spain on May 10, where all remaining passengers and crew were safely disembarked and repatriated to their home countries via specially arranged non-commercial flights.

    Genetic sequencing has confirmed the outbreak is caused by the Andes strain of hantavirus, the only known variant of the pathogen capable of limited human-to-human transmission. CARPHA emphasized that this spread only occurs through extended, close personal contact, meaning the virus cannot transmit easily through casual interactions or airborne routes in most public settings. In its update, the agency explicitly pushed back against speculation that the strain could trigger a new global pandemic, repeating its assessment that the Caribbean faces minimal current risk from the outbreak.

    Despite the low current risk, CARPHA highlighted that the Caribbean’s status as the world’s top cruise tourism destination leaves the region uniquely vulnerable to imported infectious disease outbreaks linked to international maritime travel. To mitigate any potential spillover risk, the agency has issued a set of precautionary recommendations for all member states: maintaining routine mandatory surveillance for all incoming vessels, systematically reviewing onboard medical logs to identify potential undiagnosed cases, strengthening sanitation and biosecurity protocols at all regional ports of call, and requiring immediate reporting of any suspected hantavirus cases to local public health authorities.

    “Sustained vigilance remains essential given the Caribbean’s status as the world’s leading cruise tourism destination,” the agency noted in its official statement.

    As of the latest update, there remains no specific, targeted antiviral treatment for hantavirus infection, and no vaccine approved for widespread public use globally. Public health experts stress that early recognition of symptoms and prompt supportive medical care drastically improves patient outcomes for those infected.

  • WHO declares international emergency as Ebola outbreak kills more than 80 in DR Congo

    WHO declares international emergency as Ebola outbreak kills more than 80 in DR Congo

    In a high-stakes announcement made on Sunday, the World Health Organization (WHO) has formally designated the ongoing Ebola outbreak driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), marking one of the most urgent global health alerts in recent years. This declaration comes as the outbreak, which has no licensed vaccine or targeted treatment, has already claimed more than 80 lives and crossed international borders, triggering widespread alarm among public health officials.

    The confirmation of an infected case in Goma, a major eastern DRC city located in territory controlled by the Rwanda-backed M23 militia, amplified fears of wider uncontrolled spread on Sunday. According to preliminary data released Saturday by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the outbreak has so far been linked to 88 recorded deaths and 336 suspected cases of the deadly, highly contagious haemorrhagic fever.

    Professor Jean-Jacques Muyembe, director of the Congolese National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB), confirmed the Goma case in a statement to AFP, explaining that the patient is the widow of an Ebola victim who died in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province. The woman had already contracted the virus when she traveled from Bunia to Goma following her husband’s death, he said.

    WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus voiced deep concern over the accelerating spread of the outbreak in his official announcement posted to the social platform X. While formally classifying the event as a PHEIC, the WHO’s second-highest alert level under international health regulations (IHR) — with a full pandemic designation reserved as the highest level — Ghebreyesus noted that the outbreak does not yet meet the formal criteria for a pandemic under existing global health rules.

    The WHO emphasized that the full scope of the outbreak remains shrouded in uncertainty. “There are significant uncertainties to the true number of infected persons and geographic spread,” the global health body stated in its official briefing.

    Medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has already begun mobilizing for a large-scale emergency response, with officials describing the outbreak’s rapid growth as “extremely concerning.” DR Congo’s Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba highlighted a critical gap in medical tools to fight the outbreak: “The Bundibugyo strain has no vaccine, no specific treatment,” he said, adding that the strain carries an exceptionally high fatality rate that can reach 50 percent.

    First identified in 2007, the Bundibugyo strain has already caused a death outside DR Congo’s borders: officials confirmed Saturday that a Congolese national has died of the disease in neighboring Uganda. Currently, licensed Ebola vaccines only exist for the more well-known Zaire strain, which was first documented in 1976 and carries an even higher fatality rate of 60 to 90 percent.

    The outbreak was first officially confirmed in Ituri province, a northeastern region of DR Congo that borders Uganda and South Sudan, on Friday, though local residents report deaths from unexplained illness stretching back two weeks. “We’ve been seeing people die for the past two weeks,” Isaac Nyakulinda, a local civil society representative, told AFP via phone. “There is nowhere to isolate the sick. They are dying at home and their bodies are being handled by their family members.”

    According to DR Congo’s health minister, the index case, or patient zero, was a nurse who first presented Ebola-like symptoms at a Bunia health facility on April 24. Common symptoms of the viral disease include fever, internal and external bleeding, and vomiting.

    Trish Newport, MSF’s Emergency Programme Manager, who is coordinating the group’s deployment of medical and support staff to the affected region, echoed widespread alarm. “The number of cases and deaths we are seeing in such a short timeframe, combined with the spread across several health zones and now across the border, is extremely concerning,” she said.

    Adding to response challenges, DR Congo — a nation of more than 100 million people with a land mass four times the size of France — suffers from severely underdeveloped transport and communications infrastructure, making large-scale movement of critical medical equipment a major obstacle.

    This outbreak marks the 17th Ebola event to hit DR Congo, and public health officials have repeatedly warned the risk of further geographic spread is very high. Since most cases are concentrated in hard-to-reach conflict-affected areas, only a small fraction of suspected infections have been tested in certified laboratories. Still, the WHO notes that the high positivity rate of tested samples, the spread to two separate countries, and growing reports of new suspected cases “all point towards a potentially much larger outbreak than what is currently being detected and reported, with significant local and regional risk of spread.”

    The previous Ebola outbreak in the region was declared eradicated in December last year, after killing at least 34 people between August and December 2023. Over the past 50 years, Ebola has killed roughly 15,000 people across Africa, even amid major advances in vaccine development and treatment. The 2018 to 2020 Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo remains the deadliest on record for the country, killing nearly 2,300 people.

    Believed to originate in bat populations, Ebola causes severe bleeding and organ failure in infected patients. Across all past outbreaks, the overall mortality rate ranges between 25 percent and 90 percent, per WHO data. The virus spreads between humans through contact with bodily fluids or infected blood, with patients only becoming contagious after they develop symptoms. The incubation period for Ebola can last up to 21 days, allowing undetected spread before symptoms appear.

  • NHS removes more than 5 hospital directors in five months

    NHS removes more than 5 hospital directors in five months

    Just months after taking the top post at the Dominican Republic’s National Health Service (NHS), executive director Julio Landrón has triggered a widespread leadership overhaul across the country’s public hospital network, with at least five senior directors removed from their posts in Greater Santo Domingo alone between January and May 2026.

    Landrón assumed his role as NHS head on January 9, 2026, and quickly launched an unannounced oversight strategy: surprise on-site inspections of public healthcare facilities across the nation. The evaluations that followed these visits have resulted in a wave of leadership changes, including involuntary dismissals and voluntary resignations from long-tenured hospital directors.

    The first high-profile departure came in February, when Dr. Armando José Holguín Núñez—who had led the Salvador Bienvenido Gautier Hospital since May 2023—was removed from his position. Dr. Mingkingüeis Maarlem was immediately appointed to fill the vacant director role.

    Weeks later, in early March, Willi E. Victoria Ramírez, who had served as director of Marcelino Vélez Santana Hospital since October 2020, stepped down without offering a public explanation for his resignation. A new leadership trio stepped in to replace him: Dr. Freddy Amaury took over as director, while Drs. Rafael Lachapelle and Carlos Almonte Ceballos assumed deputy director positions.

    A third leadership change in the capital region unfolded on May 8, when Landrón presided over the swearing-in of Andy De León Valenzuela as the new head of the Doctor Darío Contreras Traumatological Hospital. Outgoing director Joselin Valdez Offter, who had held the role only since December 2025, was reassigned to a new position as supervisor for all facilities in the National Traumatology Network. Valdez Offter had previously replaced Dr. César Augusto Roque Beato, who led the hospital for five years before stepping aside.

    Two more capital-region hospitals got new leaders in recent weeks: Henry Mesa was sworn in as director of the Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia University Maternity Hospital (Humnsa), while Ernesto Rodríguez took over leadership of the Engombe Municipal Hospital. Rodríguez replaces Dr. Carmen Nurys Mateo, who had managed the Engombe facility since 2021.

    The leadership overhaul is not limited to the Santo Domingo metropolitan area: regional and municipal hospitals across the country’s interior have also seen senior leadership changes under Landrón’s new administration.

    In Cotuí, Sánchez Ramírez, Landrón inaugurated Dr. Simón Bautista as head of the Ramón Báez Municipal Hospital and Dr. Adderly Rodríguez Pichardo as director of the Inmaculada Concepción Provincial Hospital. In Villa Los Almácigos, Santiago Rodríguez, Pedro Muñoz Vásquez and Rosalina Bernard Jiménez were appointed to fill the new director and deputy director roles, respectively. Most recently, Catalina Fabián was named the new director of the Ángel Contreras Provincial Hospital in Monte Plata.

    Beyond individual hospital leadership posts, Landrón has also made new appointments to specialized national healthcare networks. Manuel Tadeo Escarramán was sworn in as coordinator of the Peripheral Oncology Network, while Víctor Cabrera García took over leadership of the national Diabetic Foot Network.

  • Nine hantavirus contact cases due in at UK—health agency

    Nine hantavirus contact cases due in at UK—health agency

    LONDON — The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed that nine asymptomatic people who were exposed to a confirmed hantavirus case are scheduled to land in Britain on Sunday, marking the latest phase of the country’s public health response to the ongoing multi-location outbreak. All nine contacts, who are currently based on the UK overseas territories of Saint Helena and Ascension Island, will be moved immediately upon arrival to a dedicated isolation unit at Arrowe Park Hospital, a medical facility located just outside Liverpool in northwest England, according to the agency’s official statement.

    This new intake of potential exposure cases comes as the UK already manages other people linked to the outbreak, which was first traced back to a cruise ship in April. A healthcare worker based on Ascension Island, who developed symptoms after close contact with a person showing hantavirus signs, has already been transported to the UK for ongoing medical care. UKHSA officials note that this patient will undergo additional diagnostic testing and comprehensive clinical evaluation at the Arrowe Park isolation unit on the same day the nine new contacts arrive.

    The first group of people linked to the outbreak, roughly 20 former passengers from the cruise ship MV Hondius, were repatriated to the UK from the Canary Islands a week prior to the arrival of the new contacts. As of Saturday, eight of these 20 quarantined passengers have completed their initial hospital quarantine period and have been discharged to continue 45 more days of self-isolation at private residences, per an update from UKHSA.

    Across the entire global outbreak, three people have so far died from hantavirus infection. Unlike the Covid-19 pandemic that swept the globe in recent years, no licensed vaccines or targeted antiviral therapies currently exist to prevent or treat hantavirus infection. Despite the lack of targeted interventions and reported deaths, public health officials have stressed that the current outbreak does not pose the same large-scale transmission risk as Covid-19, pushing back on widespread comparisons between the two pathogens in public discourse.

  • Diabetes Association Plans 40th Anniversary Hike to Body Pond

    Diabetes Association Plans 40th Anniversary Hike to Body Pond

    As the Antigua and Barbuda Diabetes Association prepares to mark four decades of critical work in the community, organizers have unveiled a unique public engagement initiative: a scenic group hike to Body Pond, one of the destination’s beloved natural spots. This outdoor adventure forms a core part of the association’s year-long 40th anniversary calendar, which features 40 distinct events centered on the organization’s long-standing mission of diabetes prevention, clinical care, and community support for people living with the condition.

    The scheduled hike will kick off on Saturday, May 30, 2026, with a clear timeline for participants. All attendees are asked to assemble at the John Hughes Playing Field by 5:30 a.m., and the group will depart for the trail promptly at 6:00 a.m. To ensure hikers stay energized and comfortable throughout the journey, event planners have arranged complimentary refreshments including fresh fruit, bottled water, locally prepared bush tea, and hearty porridge. Beyond the physical activity and natural scenery, attendees will also have the chance to take part in free raffle draws held during the event, adding an extra element of community fun to the anniversary celebration.

    Founded four decades ago, the Antigua and Barbuda Diabetes Association has built its reputation on expanding access to diabetes education, supporting affected families, and advancing public health initiatives to reduce the condition’s prevalence across the twin-island nation. This anniversary event is designed not only to celebrate the organization’s decades of service but also to encourage public engagement with diabetes awareness, promoting physical activity — a key component of diabetes prevention and management — as an accessible, enjoyable community activity.

  • Health Authorities says we are consuming way too much salt

    Health Authorities says we are consuming way too much salt

    As rates of hypertension and cardiovascular disease continue climbing across Caribbean nations, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is sounding the alarm on excessive salt consumption, urging coordinated action from governments, food industry stakeholders, and individual consumers to reverse a growing public health crisis. Current data shows that between 21% and 27% of all Caribbean adults live with hypertension, and regional populations consume nearly twice the maximum daily salt intake recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). This public health threat is not unique to the Caribbean: globally, high sodium intake is linked to roughly 1.89 million premature deaths every year, and the worldwide average adult salt intake sits at 10.78 grams per day—more than double the 5 gram (under 1 teaspoon) daily limit updated by the WHO in 2025. Alarmingly, only a handful of countries worldwide have rolled out comprehensive national salt reduction strategies to address the crisis.

    CARPHA has long prioritized sodium reduction as a core component of its regional non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention efforts, working in close partnership with regional Ministries of Health, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and other local public health stakeholders to drive evidence-based change. The agency provides targeted technical guidance on food labeling systems, designs and executes public education campaigns, tracks NCD risk factors through ongoing surveillance, and leads advocacy and research to support scalable, effective interventions.

    In line with these ongoing efforts, CARPHA will join the global observance of World Salt Awareness Week 2026, held from May 11 to 17 under the global theme “Salt It Out”. This international campaign aims to amplify public understanding of the life-threatening harms of excess sodium intake, and push for stronger policies and public health interventions that reduce the population-level burden of cardiovascular diseases including hypertension, heart attack, and stroke. A 2025 PAHO report underscores the severity of this burden: cardiovascular diseases alone account for 30.8% of all NCD-related deaths in the region.

    In a statement on the urgent need for sodium reduction action, CARPHA Executive Director Dr. Lisa Indar emphasized that excess salt consumption is a “silent but significant contributor” to the region’s rising rates of hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. Dr. Indar noted that a common misconception among the public leads many to underestimate their sodium intake: most salt consumed in daily diets does not come from salt added during cooking or at the table, but from processed and ultra-processed food products that dominate modern grocery shelves. “Through stronger policies, food reformulation, better labelling, and public education, we can reduce sodium intake and save lives,” Dr. Indar said. “World Salt Awareness Week reminds us that reducing salt is one of the simplest and most cost-effective actions we can take to improve public health and protect future generations.”

    CARPHA has already laid the regulatory and programmatic groundwork for regional salt reduction through two key frameworks. First, the agency introduced the Six-Point Policy Package (6-PPP), a regional blueprint for building healthier food environments and improving food security to address childhood obesity and the growing NCD crisis. One of the package’s core recommendations calls for establishing unified regional standards and time-bound salt reduction targets for high-risk food product categories. Building on this foundation, CARPHA launched the CESA Regional Sodium Reduction Framework in 2020 to guide national governments in developing their own localized sodium reduction strategies. The framework is organized around four core pillars captured in the acronym CESA: Change the food environment through targeted policies and legislation; Educate the general population on the risks of excess sodium; Strengthen systems capacity through ongoing research, monitoring, and evaluation; and Assess national progress toward intake reduction targets.

    Updating the framework to align with 2025 WHO benchmarks, CARPHA has outlined a suite of priority measures for regional adoption. These include integrating nutrition education into school curricula, enforcing restrictions on advertising high-sodium foods to children, and launching widespread public media campaigns to raise awareness. The agency also identifies mandatory front-of-package nutrition labeling, updated nutrition facts panels, enforced regional nutrition standards, and widespread product reformulation by food manufacturers as critical, non-negotiable actions to cut population sodium intake across the Caribbean.

    The CESA framework sets an ambitious long-term goal: a healthier Caribbean where average adult salt intake falls below the WHO global target of under 5 grams (one teaspoon) per day, with even lower intake targets for children. To support early adoption of low-sodium eating habits, CARPHA has also developed supplementary public-facing resources, including *Kids Can Cook Too*, a recipe book featuring nutritious, kid-friendly meals with little to no added salt, fat, or sugar. More information on the Regional Sodium Reduction Framework is available on CARPHA’s official website: https://carpha.org/What-We-Do/NCD/Nutrition/Knowledge-Banks/CESA/Regional-Sodium-Reduction-Framework

  • Compassionate Caregiver Dr. Eck Remembered As Nation Mourns

    Compassionate Caregiver Dr. Eck Remembered As Nation Mourns

    On May 15, 2026, the entire nation of Belize is united in grief following the death of one of its most celebrated healthcare workers, Dr. Cecilio Eck – a pediatrician known affectionately to generations of patients as “Dr. Shrek.” Over a decades-long career dedicated to child health, Dr. Eck grew far beyond the role of a medical provider to become a lifeline for thousands of children and their families, both across Belize and across international borders. Colleagues, patients and community members remember him for his radical compassion, infectious humor, and unyielding commitment to protecting the most vulnerable young lives, a legacy that transformed Belize’s national healthcare landscape in ways that cannot be measured.

    For more than 20 years, Dr. Eck practiced at Coral Grove Medical Center, where he reimagined what a pediatric clinic could be. Instead of a space of fear and stress for children, he built a warm, welcoming environment where young patients actually looked forward to their appointments. A brightly colored lollipop wheel greeted every visitor at the door, a constant supply of fun stickers sat within easy reach, and a small figurine of the beloved animated character Shrek presided over the waiting room – the small detail that gave rise to the nickname that would stick with him for his entire career. He had an extraordinary, one-of-a-kind gift for easing the anxiety of sick children and calming the fears of worried parents, turning routine checkups and stressful treatments into gentle, positive experiences.

    Khailyn Tillett, one of his former pediatric patients, recalled a favorite visit in a 2024 interview: “One of my favorite days was a time when I went for a checkup and he was being really goofy with me and I got a lot of stickers and I got a lollipop.”

    Dr. Eck’s impact stretched far beyond the walls of his Coral Grove clinic. As Medical Director of the global non-profit World Pediatrics, he regularly traveled with critically ill children on medical evacuation flights out of Belize when life-saving specialized surgeries were not available locally. He never sought public recognition or financial reward for this work; those close to him say he did it simply because it was the right thing to do, rooted in his core commitment to every child’s right to health.

    Milagro Garel, Country Director for World Pediatrics in Belize, reflected on the profound gap his passing leaves: “I can’t even wrap my head around how we will ever replace him. Our light has been dimmed. Dr. Eck mentored all of us and helped us overcome so many challenges right here in the country. He always ensured that we treated each family with such love and grace and kindness. And really no hill or mountain was too hard for him to climb to be able to help children in every capacity.”

    In July 2024, the man who spent his entire life caring for other people received a devastating diagnosis: a routine scan at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital revealed stage-four biliary tract cancer. In the months that followed, the nation rallied around him, with nationwide fundraisers, crowdfunding campaigns on GoFundMe, and collective prayer services drawing hundreds of supporters from across Belize. Even amid his own fight, Dr. Eck chose to speak openly about his cancer journey, choosing radical transparency to serve a greater public good.

    In a January 2026 interview, he explained his decision to go public: “I’ve chosen to make this my illness public for the simple fact that I want to raise awareness for cancer and I want everybody to not be so afraid of it.”

    As his health declined through his treatment, Dr. Eck never lost his trademark warmth, courage, or sense of purpose. He continued to inspire everyone around him, retaining his signature humor, unshakable faith, and kindness even through the hardest days of his illness – a trait those who knew him say will define his legacy forever.

    Garel recalled the small, joyful traditions that showed Dr. Eck’s character: “Families and the children will remember his humor. Every Christmas we would give out so many gifts, but he refused to dress like Santa Claus. He came as he was, and always bringing so much joy to children and all the lollipops in his pediatric center, and just brought out the best in every single person that he met. We are so humbled and privileged that we were able to be a part of Dr. Eck’s career in Belize. And I know that everyone, that our nation, is mourning today. But the way that he has faced this challenge is going to play a major role because he did with faith and good grace and humor, and that’s how we will remember him.”

    Tonight, as the nation mourns the loss of a irreplaceable icon of compassionate care, Dr. Eck’s legacy endures. It lives on in the hundreds of children whose lives he saved, the healthcare workers he mentored, and the countless Belizeans who were touched by his kindness. For a generation, he redefined what it means to be a caregiver, and his imprint on Belize will not be forgotten. This report is from Zenida Lanza, reporting for News Five.

  • Silence Broken: Ministry of Education Defends HPV Vaccine Rollout

    Silence Broken: Ministry of Education Defends HPV Vaccine Rollout

    Dated May 15, 2026 – After several days of growing public contention over the implementation of school-based human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination initiatives, the nation’s Ministry of Education has ended its period of public silence, releasing an official statement that reaffirms the institution’s unwavering commitment to protecting the health and well-being of secondary and primary school students across the country.

    In its formal press release, the Ministry of Education emphasized that all school-run vaccination programs are developed and executed in full partnership with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, operating under rigorous, evidence-based protocols that mandate written informed consent from a parent or legal guardian before any student can receive a dose of the vaccine. The statement further highlighted that the entire initiative is structured to uphold parental decision-making authority, maintain full transparency around processes and vaccine safety, and place student safety as the non-negotiable top priority of all involved parties.

    Notably, the Ministry of Education’s official comment did not address specific concerns raised by religious church groups, which have emerged as the primary driving force behind the ongoing public debate surrounding the program.

    Days prior, on Thursday, Dr. Natalia Beer, a technical advisor at the Ministry of Health and Wellness, offered a detailed breakdown of the step-by-step protocol that public health teams follow when rolling out the vaccination program in schools. Beer explained that the process begins with three separate informational outreach sessions before any vaccinations are administered: an initial meeting with school principals, a second briefing for teaching staff, and a third community information session for parents and guardians.

    Beer acknowledged that parent turnout for general Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) hosted informational meetings is often lower than public health teams would prefer. To address this gap, she noted that school nurses and community health care workers go above and beyond scheduled group meetings to conduct one-on-one outreach with parents, ensuring every guardian has access to clear, accurate information about the vaccine’s purpose, safety profile, and potential benefits before they are asked to sign a consent form. In addition to in-person outreach, public health teams also conduct follow-up phone calls to answer outstanding questions and share information with parents who could not attend in-person sessions. Only after all outreach and consent requirements are completed does the fourth and final step – the on-site vaccination clinic at the school – take place. Beer stressed that the three pre-vaccination outreach sessions and consistent two-way communication with parents are non-negotiable requirements of the protocol.

    The Ministry of Health and Wellness has confirmed that it will continue to collaborate closely with school administrators, parent groups, and local health care providers to ensure accurate, evidence-based information about the HPV vaccine is widely accessible, and that all vaccination efforts remain fully voluntary and transparent for all participating families.

  • Bed bugs force closure of Dr Betty Wells Urban Polyclinic

    Bed bugs force closure of Dr Betty Wells Urban Polyclinic

    A primary healthcare facility has been ordered into temporary closure after health inspectors confirmed a bed bug infestation in multiple zones of the building, triggering a structured pest control response from the country’s Ministry of Health, Wellness and Nutrition.

    In an official announcement published Friday, the ministry clarified that the temporary shutdown was a critical preemptive step to enable full-scale inspection and targeted eradication work. The goal of the operation is twofold: to map the full scope of the infestation and eliminate every trace of the parasitic pests from the facility.

    Two specialized government teams — the Environmental Health Division and the Vector Control Unit — have already launched on-site activities, including detailed site surveys, continuous monitoring of pest activity, and focused treatment of all confirmed affected areas.

    According to ministry officials, the eradication strategy combines two evidence-based treatment approaches: heat application and targeted chemical intervention.

    Heat treatment, which leverages high-temperature steam devices on seating, upholstered furniture and all confirmed infestation hotspots, was selected for its proven effectiveness against bed bugs and their eggs, both of which cannot survive sustained high temperatures. Strategic chemical treatments are also being deployed in hard-to-reach areas to reinforce the eradication effort.

    Ernie Pierre, Chief Environmental Health Officer, emphasized that bed bugs are extraordinarily adaptable pests found across every region of the globe, and their presence is not automatically an indicator of poor hygiene or unsanitary conditions. Pierre explained that high-traffic public facilities like healthcare centers are particularly vulnerable, because the pests can easily be carried into buildings unknowingly by visitors or staff on clothing, bags, wheelchairs, furniture and other personal items.

    He added that infestations are also common in other high-foot-traffic spaces, including hotels, airport terminals, public transit systems and even residential properties. The ministry further warned that single-round treatment rarely succeeds in fully eliminating bed bugs, because the insects are experts at hiding in tiny, inaccessible spaces: wall cracks, crevices, furniture seams, bedding gaps, wall joints and other concealed spots. Some bed bug populations have also developed genetic resistance to certain common pesticides, meaning repeated treatment rounds and long-term monitoring are often required to fully resolve an infestation.

    While existing research confirms bed bugs do not transmit communicable diseases between humans, the ministry noted their bites can trigger a range of unpleasant health effects, including persistent itching, skin inflammation, rashes, general discomfort, and in rare severe cases, allergic reactions that require formal medical care.

    Public health officials are urging community members to learn to identify the common early warning signs of a bed bug infestation, including faint blood stains on linens, dark pest excrement spots, visible eggs, shed insect exoskeletons, bite marks on exposed skin, and even sightings of live adult bugs in mattress seams, chair crevices or furniture joints.

    The ministry has also issued a set of practical prevention guidelines for the public, advising caution when traveling or buying secondhand furniture, mattresses, bedding or clothing. Recommended prevention steps include washing all new or travel clothing and linens in hot water, exposing vulnerable items to direct sunlight or high heat, regularly vacuuming mattresses and upholstered furniture, inspecting luggage thoroughly after returning from travel, and conducting careful checks before bringing used items into the home.

    Moving forward, the Environmental Health Division confirmed it will continue expanding public education initiatives and provide guidance and support to community members and facilities on effective bed bug identification, prevention and long-term management.