The Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) has issued a public health warning urging consumers to avoid the 100% Haitian seasoning mix ‘PAM PI GOU.’ The product, which was sold in Quebec until October 17, 2025, was not prepared or packaged in a manner that ensures its safety, potentially fostering the growth of the dangerous bacterium Clostridium botulinum. This bacteria can produce a toxin that leads to severe health complications, including facial paralysis, vision and speech issues, and even death in extreme cases. The seasoning mix was sold in Mason-type glass jars and stored refrigerated, with its label prominently displaying the name ‘PAM PI GOU.’ The manufacturer has initiated a recall and collaborated with MAPAQ to issue this precautionary alert. Consumers in possession of the product are advised not to consume it and to either return it to the point of purchase or dispose of it immediately. Although no cases of illness linked to the product have been reported to date, the potential risks underscore the importance of this warning. MAPAQ emphasizes that even if the product appears normal and lacks any signs of spoilage or unusual odor, it could still be contaminated. This alert serves as a critical reminder of the importance of food safety standards and the need for vigilance in food consumption.
分类： health
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Guyana closer to 100 percent treated water
Guyana is making significant strides toward achieving universal access to treated water, with hundreds of thousands of coastal residents now closer to receiving fully treated water. This progress was highlighted during the commissioning of a GY$1.3 billion water treatment plant at Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown, on Saturday, October 18, 2025. President Irfaan Ali announced that by the end of 2026, the country aims to achieve nearly 100% treated water coverage along the coast, benefiting homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses. The Cummings Lodge plant, with a daily capacity of 12 million liters, will serve nearly 10,000 people in areas like Tucville, Stevedore, South Ruimveldt, and Heroes Highway. Additionally, plans are underway to construct the largest coastal water treatment plant at Bachelor’s Adventure, East Coast Demerara, with a capacity of 20 million liters per day. Funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), five new treatment plants are expected to boost Guyana’s treated water coverage to 95% by 2026. In remote hinterland areas, access to potable water is projected to increase from 92% to 96% next year. Nationally, 98.4% of Guyana’s population now has access to potable water, one of the highest rates in the Caribbean. The government has laid over 200 kilometers of new pipelines, built seven large treatment plants, upgraded 13 others, and constructed 18 small community systems. President Ali emphasized that these investments reflect the government’s commitment to caring for its citizens, even in economically challenging areas.
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Find your cow
In the whirlwind of life’s challenges, finding effective coping mechanisms is essential for maintaining mental well-being. While some turn to traditional methods like therapy, exercise, or gardening, others discover solace in unconventional activities. For me, swimming has become a sanctuary—a place where I feel most like myself, even if my strokes resemble those of a beluga whale. It’s not about grace or competition; it’s about finding peace in the water. This personal reflection underscores the importance of identifying what works uniquely for you, whether it’s a long drive, painting a fence, or baking cookies. However, not all coping strategies are created equal. While some, like indulging in cake or other comfort foods, may offer temporary relief, they can lead to long-term harm if overused. The key is to find healthy, sustainable ways to manage stress without losing yourself in the process. For some, this might involve problem-focused techniques, while others may benefit from emotion-focused or spiritual approaches. The journey to mental wellness is deeply personal, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. As I reflect on my mother’s serene moment bathing a borrowed cow, I’m reminded that serenity can be found in the most unexpected places. Ultimately, the goal is to discover your own ‘cow’—a practice that brings calm without causing harm. And remember, seeking professional guidance from a doctor or therapist can provide valuable insights tailored to your unique needs.
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ChequéateRD’ program reaches 124,000 cancer screenings in four years
The Dominican Republic’s national cancer screening initiative, ChequéateRD, has achieved a significant milestone by conducting 124,000 screenings since its inception in 2021. The program, which focuses on the early detection of breast, cervical, and prostate cancers, is set to continue its operations through September 2025. This collaborative effort between the National Health Service (SNS) and the First Lady’s Office has been instrumental in providing free diagnostic and preventive services nationwide. Utilizing a network of 13 prioritized hospitals and 512 mobile health campaigns, ChequéateRD has successfully delivered critical medical care to underserved communities. At the program’s fourth-anniversary celebration, First Lady Raquel Arbaje reaffirmed her dedication to expanding the initiative, emphasizing its mission to bring life-saving opportunities to those in greatest need. Dr. Mario Lama, Director of the SNS, underscored the program’s success in reducing cancer mortality, noting that early detection through mammography can identify breast cancer up to two years before it becomes palpable. To date, the program has screened 89,153 women and 34,603 men, with 354 cancer diagnoses confirmed via biopsy and 276 patients currently receiving treatment, highlighting the program’s crucial role in timely intervention.
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New Tobacco Control Bill Targets Ads, Packaging, and Smoke-Free Spaces
In a significant step toward public health reform, Belize’s Minister of Health and Wellness, Kevin Bernard, has introduced a groundbreaking Tobacco Control Bill to parliament. The legislation, designed to align with the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), seeks to address the long-standing issues of tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure in the country. The bill focuses on several key areas, including the implementation of smoke-free public spaces, strict advertising restrictions, and standardized packaging rules to deter tobacco consumption. Additionally, it proposes the establishment of a national coordinating body to oversee tobacco control efforts and ensure compliance. Minister Bernard emphasized the bill’s goal of protecting current and future generations from the harmful effects of tobacco, particularly by preventing youth addiction and raising public awareness about the risks of smoking. Despite Belize ratifying the FCTC in 2005, the country has lacked comprehensive enforcement mechanisms until now. The introduction of this bill raises questions about the delay in action and the strategies for monitoring and enforcing the new regulations. The move has garnered support from health stakeholders, including the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Ministry of Health & Wellness, while also involving opposition members in the legislative process.
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CARPHA rep highlights Caribbean variables to global audience at World Health Summit
The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the leading public health authority within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), played a pivotal role at the World Health Summit (WHS) 2025, held in Berlin, Germany, from October 12 to 14, 2025. The summit, themed ‘Taking Responsibility for Health in a Fragmenting World,’ attracted over 4,000 on-site delegates from 144 countries and more than 40,000 virtual participants. With over 400 speakers, the event boasted balanced gender representation, according to a CARPHA statement. Representing the Caribbean, CARPHA’s Executive Director, Dr. Lisa Indar, was the sole regional speaker, shedding light on the distinct public health challenges faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean. Dr. Indar emphasized the region’s vulnerabilities, including small geographic sizes, interconnected networks, porous borders, fragile healthcare systems, reliance on tourism, and susceptibility to natural disasters and climate change. She underscored the necessity for tailored health strategies to mitigate the rapid spread of infectious diseases both within and beyond the region. Dr. Indar highlighted CARPHA’s initiatives, such as developing early warning systems, enhancing laboratory capabilities, workforce training, and fostering partnerships for pandemic prevention and response, supported by the Pandemic Fund grant. She also addressed critical issues like mental health, climate change, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and the aging population. Her participation extended to high-profile sessions, including discussions on global health emergencies, pandemic resilience, and mental health action. Additionally, Dr. Indar engaged in side meetings with international collaborators, focusing on integrating climate services into health systems and collaborative surveillance. CARPHA lauded the summit as a crucial platform for strengthening global health partnerships and addressing pressing public health challenges.
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Landmark Tobacco Control Bill Introduced
In a groundbreaking move to safeguard public health, Belize’s Minister of Health and Wellness, Kevin Bernard, unveiled the Tobacco Control Bill 2025 in the House of Representatives on October 17, 2025. Described as a “decisive step” toward protecting the nation’s youth and future generations, the bill aligns with the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. It aims to regulate the sale, advertising, packaging, and labeling of tobacco and nicotine-related products, including e-cigarettes, while banning the tobacco industry’s involvement in health policy decisions. Bernard emphasized the urgency of the crisis, citing WHO data that reveals tobacco kills over eight million people annually, including 1.2 million non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke. In Belize, 8.7% of adults and 15% of youth aged 13 to 15 use tobacco, with e-cigarette use among teens reaching 12%. The bill, backed by the Cabinet and international health organizations like PAHO and WHO, seeks to prevent the tobacco epidemic through effective legislation. Bernard called on lawmakers to prioritize public health over industry profits, warning of potential resistance from powerful tobacco manufacturers. The bill’s introduction marks the beginning of parliamentary debate, with Bernard urging unity to save lives and protect the nation’s youth.
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VES: Gezondheidszorg centraal in jaarrede; samenhang en uitvoeringskracht blijven onbenoemd
In the 2025 State of the Nation Address, the President of Suriname dedicated nearly 20% of the speech to healthcare, outlining key priorities such as strengthening primary care through Regional Health Services (RGD) and emergency clinics, advancing digitalization, reforming the State Hospital Fund (SZF), the Bureau of Public Health (BOG), and the Suriname Medicines Bureau (BVGS), and enhancing nursing and medical capacity. Specific attention was given to pediatrics, mental health, inland healthcare, and financial reward systems. However, the Association of Economists in Suriname (VES) criticized the address for lacking coherence, arguing that the listed priorities remained disjointed without a unifying framework, mirroring the shortcomings of previous administrations. VES emphasized the need for an integrated approach in its periodic publication INZICHT. The VES advocates for a shift from the traditional model of primary care to integrated care units, where prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and aftercare are systematically linked by disease profile. This approach promises greater cohesion, measurable outcomes, and cost control. For instance, ‘s Lands Hospitaal could evolve into a specialized Mother and Child Center, consolidating perinatal care, pediatric care, and gynecology to enhance quality, outcomes, and resource efficiency. Similarly, the Psychiatric and Neurological Center Suriname could become a national hub for mental, neurological, and addiction care, reducing wait times and improving treatment results. The VES also proposed linking RGD posts and emergency clinics to specialized care pathways for conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, infections, cancer, lung disorders, eye conditions, and movement disorders, making prevention an integral part of the care process. This model would optimize personnel deployment, create jobs, and enable higher salaries. The SZF could transition to bundled payments, rewarding quality and outcomes rather than volume, while the BOG could become a national data and knowledge center, eliminating the need for a separate healthcare authority. Specialized centers in Paramaribo would serve as hubs for a broader network, with hospitals in Atjoni, Wanica, and Albina playing key roles. Telemedicine and digitalization would extend high-quality care to inland areas. Care pathways would address the shortage of nurses and specialists by leveraging foreign expertise and better coordination, creating thousands of jobs for nurses, lab technicians, dietitians, physiotherapists, medical-technical staff, and data analysts. This approach would increase patient capacity, improve care quality, and provide financial room for better staff compensation. While the State of the Nation Address presented fragmented priorities, the VES’s care pathway model offers a cohesive and sustainable alternative, capable of modernizing Suriname’s healthcare system and ensuring its affordability.
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Breast cancer scare
A dire shortage of functioning mammogram machines in western Jamaica has left over 100 women indefinitely waiting for breast cancer screenings they have already paid for. The region, managed by the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), currently has only one operational mammogram machine at Cornwall Regional Hospital, severely limiting access to early detection services. This crisis has disrupted the annual mammogram drive organized by the Misty Blue Cancer Care Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to cancer education and prevention in Westmoreland. Despite securing sponsorships from the Sandals Foundation, American Friends of Jamaica, and Scotiabank Jamaica to cover the costs of 115 mammograms, the foundation has been unable to proceed due to the lack of available equipment. Dorothy Satchwell, the foundation’s founder and chair, expressed frustration over the situation, emphasizing the growing morbidity and mortality rates of breast cancer in the region. She revealed that 1,350 Westmoreland residents died from cancer in 2023, with approximately 24 deaths attributed to breast cancer. The issue is further exacerbated by the absence of screening mechanisms, leading to late-stage diagnoses among younger women. Dr. Lincoln Cox of Savanna-la-Mar General Hospital shared alarming data showing a steady increase in breast cancer surgeries over the past five years, with 47 cases recorded in 2024 alone. In response, Misty Blue Foundation is exploring long-term solutions, including the possibility of acquiring a mobile mammogram unit with future sponsorships. The foundation has been a pivotal force in cancer awareness since its inception in 2015, conducting community health fairs and educational programs in partnership with local health departments. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the organization traditionally runs month-long campaigns, heavily supported by the Sandals Foundation. Satchwell hopes to expand these efforts to include broader health awareness initiatives, particularly in schools. The recent Faith Gifford Symposium, endorsed by the Ministry of Health and Wellness, highlighted the foundation’s commitment to advancing cancer care at the parish level. Attendees, including students and educators, praised the event for its informative and impactful presentations. As the foundation continues its advocacy, it aims to honor the legacy of Faith Gifford, a founding member remembered for her unwavering support of cancer patients.
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Jamaica Cancer Society seeks $50m for new mammogram machine
The Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS) has launched an urgent $50-million fundraising campaign to replace its aging mammogram machine, which is nearing the end of its operational lifespan. The appeal was made by JCS Executive Director Roshane Reid-Koomson on World Mammography Day, emphasizing the need to ensure continued access to subsidized and free breast-screening services for women across Jamaica.