Carib Scope

分类： health

  • Recognizing the warning signs of a stroke and acting quickly can save a life

    Recognizing the warning signs of a stroke and acting quickly can save a life

    As one of the top global causes of permanent disability and mortality, stroke demands urgent public awareness of its warning signs, according to leading medical experts at the Mayo Clinic. Early recognition of symptoms and immediate access to emergency care, professionals emphasize, can drastically alter a patient’s long-term prognosis, preserving brain function and saving lives in the process.

    “When it comes to stroke care, time lost equals brain lost,” explains Dr. Josephine Huang, a board-certified neurologist based at Mayo Clinic’s Florida campus. “Every minute a patient waits to receive care raises the risk of irreversible brain damage. The quicker we can intervene, the higher the likelihood we can cut long-term disability and set patients up for a stronger recovery.”

    A stroke occurs when the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the brain is interrupted. This interruption stems from one of two causes: a blocked artery that cuts off circulation, or uncontrolled bleeding within the brain tissue. Both classifications of stroke require urgent medical assessment, as timely intervention has been proven to dramatically boost recovery outcomes and lower the risk of lasting impairment, experts confirm.

    Stroke symptoms typically emerge with little warning, and common indicators include sudden facial drooping on one side of the face, unexpected weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, slurred or garbled speech, difficulty understanding or forming language, sudden changes to vision, dizziness, and sudden loss of coordination or balance. To help the public easily recall these critical warning signs, Mayo Clinic specialists developed the accessible BE FAST mnemonic:
    – **B (Balance)**: Sudden difficulty maintaining balance or coordinating movements
    – **E (Eyes)**: Sudden blurry vision, partial vision loss, or complete vision loss in one or both eyes
    – **F (Face)**: Drooping or numbness that leaves one side of the face uneven when smiling
    – **A (Arm)**: Sudden weakness or numbness that causes one arm to drift downward when raised
    – **S (Speech)**: Slurred speech or trouble understanding what others are saying
    – **T (Time)**: Call emergency services immediately if any of these signs appear, even if they fade on their own

    Rapid medical intervention works to restore blood flow to the brain before permanent damage sets in. Mayo Clinic experts emphasize that emergency assessments must begin the moment symptoms are noticed, rather than waiting to see if symptoms fade or worsen. For ischemic strokes, which are caused by a blood clot blocking brain circulation, care providers have multiple effective intervention options, including clot-dissolving thrombolytic medications and minimally invasive thrombectomy procedures to physically remove the blockage.

    “Minimally invasive clot removal is a game-changing intervention for many patients,” Dr. Huang notes. “Using image guidance, doctors thread a thin guidewire through a patient’s blood vessel directly to the clot, extract it, and immediately restore normal blood flow to the affected area of the brain.”

    For hemorrhagic strokes, which occur when a blood vessel ruptures and causes bleeding in the brain, treatment priorities shift to controlling elevated blood pressure, reversing the effects of anticoagulant medications if the patient takes them, and in some cases, performing emergency surgery to relieve dangerous pressure on the brain tissue.

    Beyond acute treatment, experts also stress that proactive prevention plays a central role in reducing stroke incidence. A range of controllable risk factors raise an individual’s chance of having a stroke, including chronic high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, tobacco use, obesity, high cholesterol, a sedentary lifestyle, and atrial fibrillation. According to Mayo Clinic data, as many as 90% of all strokes can be prevented through targeted management of these risk factors and sustained adjustments to daily lifestyle habits.

    To lower long-term stroke risk, specialists recommend routine preventive health screenings, consistent daily physical activity, and a nutrient-dense balanced diet. “Identifying underlying risk factors early and ensuring they receive appropriate, ongoing management makes an enormous difference in stopping a stroke before it ever occurs,” Dr. Huang says.

  • Major animal vaccination campaign to combat anthrax in Haiti

    Major animal vaccination campaign to combat anthrax in Haiti

    On September 15, 2026, agricultural authorities in southern Haiti kicked off a large-scale free anthrax vaccination campaign targeting domestic livestock, a public health and food security initiative designed to curb the deadly disease that threatens both animal herds and human communities across the region. The launch ceremony took place in Laborde’s 3rd communal section, within the Les Cayes commune, led by the veterinary division of the South Departmental Directorate of Agriculture (DDAS) and implemented in close partnership with the Resilient Agriculture for Food Security Project (PARSA).

    Organized under the oversight of Haiti’s Ministry of Agriculture, the campaign will roll out across every commune in the department, reaching all livestock-owning households at no cost. Speaking at the opening event held in Kafou Tiboul, Dr. Atenord Oreus, lead veterinary official for the initiative, outlined that the program’s core mission is to protect local cattle, goats and sheep from anthrax—a highly lethal infectious disease that can wipe out entire herds, destabilize household incomes, and put both community food security and public safety at grave risk.

    High turnout marked the first day of operations, with hundreds of local farmers bringing their animals to mobile vaccination stations deployed across the launch area. The mobilized veterinary teams administered doses to a wide range of livestock, as farmers turned out en masse to take advantage of the free public health service.

    During his address to attending farmers, Dr. Oreus emphasized the critical role of routine preventive vaccination in preserving herd health and sustaining the livelihoods of the thousands of southern Haitian households that depend on livestock rearing for income and food. He went on to detail the ambitious coverage target set for the campaign: more than 100,000 head of livestock are scheduled to receive the anthrax vaccine by the end of the initiative, a goal that underscores both the scale of the effort and DDAS’s commitment to bolstering regional disease prevention systems.

    Alongside announcing the vaccination goals, Dr. Oreus issued a critical public safety warning to all livestock owners: under no circumstances should anyone consume meat from animals that have died from suspected or confirmed anthrax cases. He reminded farmers that sudden, unexplained livestock death is a key red flag for anthrax, and urged anyone who observes such an event to immediately notify local veterinary services for rapid testing and safe disposal of infected carcasses to avoid transmission to humans.

    Dr. Camille Joseph, PARSA’s Animal Production Assistant for the Grand Sud region, reinforced these warnings, stressing that vigilance against anthrax is a shared responsibility that protects both livestock herds and community health. Echoing Dr. Oreus, Joseph urged producers to avoid consuming or selling meat from sick animals or animals found dead under suspicious circumstances, to prevent outbreaks of the disease in human populations.

    Joseph framed the campaign as ongoing support from Haiti’s Ministry of Agriculture to smallholder livestock producers and the broader animal production sector. He encouraged local producers to organize into collective groups to better communicate their needs to agricultural authorities, which would help make preventive vaccination programs a regular, sustained feature of regional agricultural health, rather than a one-time response. He added that sustained control of anthrax cannot be achieved through single campaigns, but requires continuous collaboration between livestock owners, veterinary services, and supporting institutions to maintain protection for herds and the families that rely on them.

    Local livestock producers who have already accessed the campaign have expressed widespread satisfaction with the free initiative, which addresses a longstanding unmet need for anthrax prevention in the region.

  • CariPHLN Workshop strengthens Caribbean laboratories networking and capacities

    CariPHLN Workshop strengthens Caribbean laboratories networking and capacities

    Between September 8 and 10, 2026, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) successfully concluded its 11th Annual Caribbean Public Health Laboratory Network (CariPHLN) Workshop in Bridgetown, Barbados. The three-day hybrid event, made possible by funding from CARPHA’s Pandemic Fund grant, united 26 laboratory directors alongside public health laboratory specialists, CARPHA personnel, and regional stakeholders to advance core public health priorities across the Caribbean.

    CariPHLN functions as CARPHA’s flagship regional coordination mechanism, designed to connect national laboratory leaders, expand institutional capacity, improve access to specialized testing and specimen referral services, enforce standardized quality protocols, and enable coordinated cross-border action across CARPHA’s Member States. For the 2026 workshop, 11 laboratory directors traveled to Bridgetown to attend in person, representing Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Curaçao, Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. An additional 15 directors joined virtually from a roster of territories and nations including Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, Bonaire, the Cayman Islands, Grenada, Haiti, Montserrat, the Netherlands, St Kitts and Nevis, Sint Maarten, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. Personnel from the CARPHA Medical Microbiology Laboratory (CMML), based across CARPHA’s three regional campuses, also contributed to workshop discussions and activities.

    In her opening remarks to attendees, CARPHA Executive Director Dr. Lisa Indar emphasized the non-negotiable role of robust laboratory systems in safeguarding regional population health. “Public health laboratories remain one of the most critical foundations of regional health security,” Dr. Indar stated. “The ability to rapidly detect a pathogen, confirm an outbreak, identify antimicrobial resistance, share reliable data, and refer specimens safely can determine how effectively we protect our populations.”

    Dr. Gabriel M Gonzalez Escobar, Assistant Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control (SDPC) and Head of the CMML, echoed this sentiment, highlighting that sustained regional collaboration is the only way to address evolving transboundary health threats. “The CariPHLN meeting provides a critical opportunity for laboratories and public health professionals from across the Caribbean to come together, share experiences, and strengthen the regional systems that protect our populations,” Dr. Gonzalez Escobar explained. “As health threats continue to evolve, collaboration, timely data sharing, and laboratory excellence remain essential to safeguarding the health security of our Member States.”

    A central focus of this year’s workshop was closing the gap between laboratory-generated data and timely, evidence-based public health intervention. Attendees explored actionable strategies to improve tracking of regional laboratory capacity, streamline specimen submission and transportation protocols, and strengthen cross-border data-sharing infrastructure. The workshop also served to expand awareness of two key CARPHA tools: the Regional Integrated Early Warning Surveillance and Response System (RIEWSS), which consolidates multiple surveillance data streams to enable earlier outbreak detection and coordinated response, and SENAITE, a cloud-based Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) designed to optimize laboratory workflows, centralize data management, and facilitate secure information exchange.

    Beyond data infrastructure, discussions centered on top regional health security priorities, including antimicrobial resistance (AMR) monitoring, tuberculosis surveillance and diagnostic access, preparedness for measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases, biorisk management protocols, improvements to cross-border specimen referral, and the integration of laboratory data into public health decision-making processes. Participants also exchanged on-the-ground national experiences in outbreak response and capacity building, collaboratively identifying concrete next steps to advance network goals across the region.

    The 2026 workshop built on measurable progress delivered since the 2025 gathering, including strengthened CariPHLN governance through regular executive committee meetings, renewed activity across all Technical Advisory Groups, the launch of a dedicated AMR Technical Advisory Group, expanded regional diagnostic capacity, improved overall pandemic preparedness, targeted workforce and institutional capacity building, harmonized technical standards across member states, upgraded cross-border specimen referral systems, and enhanced data sharing and communication between national authorities.

    Looking ahead, CARPHA will continue leveraging the CariPHLN network to support Member States in building resilient, sustainable laboratory systems, strengthening regional connectivity, and ensuring high-quality laboratory data drives earlier outbreak detection, faster response, and more robust overall health security across the Caribbean.

    ### Background: The CARPHA Pandemic Fund Project
    CARPHA serves as the Executing Agency for the Pandemic Fund (PF) Project, with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) acting as Implementing Entity. Running from 2024 to 2026, the project’s core mission is to reduce the public health impact of pandemics across the Caribbean through expanded prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR) capacity. Its key objectives include building out regional and national pandemic PPR infrastructure, including surveillance and early warning systems, upgraded laboratory networks, and strengthened workforce capacity. By advancing these goals, the project aims to slow the transboundary spread of infectious diseases and improve both regional and global health security. CARPHA is the primary beneficiary of the PF grant, with all CARPHA Member States participating in project activities. More information is available via CARPHA’s official Pandemic Fund webpage.

  • PAHO opent toegang tot halfjaarlijkse hiv-preventie-injectie in 14 landen

    PAHO opent toegang tot halfjaarlijkse hiv-preventie-injectie in 14 landen

    Fourteen countries across Latin America are set to expand their HIV prevention toolkit after the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) secured a landmark access agreement with U.S.-based pharmaceutical giant Gilead Sciences for lenacapavir, a groundbreaking long-acting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) administered just twice per year.

    The deal covers Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela, with Suriname excluded from this specific arrangement. Participating nations will be able to purchase the drug through PAHO’s Regional Revolving Fund, a bulk procurement mechanism that aggregates demand across multiple countries to secure lower prices and more reliable supply of critical health products compared to individual national purchases. Before the drug can be rolled out to at-risk populations, each country must still complete national regulatory approval and program implementation processes.

    Unlike traditional oral PrEP that requires daily adherence, lenacapavir is delivered via injection just once every six months. The World Health Organization (WHO) formally endorsed lenacapavir as an additional HIV prevention option in 2025, following clinical trial data published by PAHO showing the drug achieves nearly 100% effectiveness in blocking new HIV infections. This half-yearly dosing model fills a critical gap for people who struggle to maintain daily or frequent dosing schedules required by existing prevention methods.

    Public health data underscores the urgent need for expanded prevention tools across the region: PAHO records roughly 140,000 new HIV infections annually in Latin America and the Caribbean. “The Americas have access to increasingly effective tools to prevent HIV, but these innovations only make an impact if they reach the people who need them most,” said PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa. He noted the new agreement will help narrow gaps in access to lenacapavir and give countries more flexible options to expand their prevention outreach. This procurement arrangement operates alongside existing voluntary licensing agreements for lenacapavir that already cover 24 Latin American and Caribbean nations, as part of a broader global access program reaching 120 countries worldwide.

    In a complementary commitment included in the deal, Gilead has agreed to pursue technology transfer to Brazil to enable local manufacturing of lenacapavir in the future. No firm timeline or specific operational structure for local production has been finalized, but PAHO projects that regional manufacturing will boost long-term drug availability and create more sustainable, affordable procurement pathways for the region.

    Rollout of lenacapavir into national HIV programs will proceed in a phased, gradual manner. Participating countries will need to update national public health regulations and clinical treatment guidelines, train healthcare workers on administration and patient support, and adapt existing care systems to integrate the new prevention option.

    Lenacapavir will complement existing HIV prevention tools currently available across the region, including daily and on-demand oral PrEP, another long-acting injectable option called cabotegravir, and condoms. PAHO frames the expansion of prevention options as a core part of regional efforts to cut new infection rates further and achieve the global target of ending HIV as a public health threat by 2030.

  • Belize’s Flagship Hospital Celebrates 31st Anniversary

    Belize’s Flagship Hospital Celebrates 31st Anniversary

    As one of Belize’s most critical healthcare institutions, Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) — the nation’s flagship public medical facility — is commemorating 31 years of dedicated care to Belizean communities this week. For more than three decades, the hospital has stood as a lifeline for patients facing life-threatening illnesses, injuries, and public health crises, walking with Belizeans through their most vulnerable moments. This year, however, the anniversary celebration shifts its focus from institutional milestones to the unsung heroes who keep the hospital operational 24/7: its doctors, nurses, administrative teams, cleaning staff, and all other support personnel.

    The week-long slate of anniversary activities kicked off on September 15 with an opening church service to bless the hospital’s workforce and its ongoing mission. Organized collectively by leaders across every hospital department, the celebration includes daily raffles, exclusive giveaways for staff, and opportunities for cross-departmental fellowship. A staff sports day is scheduled for Thursday, designed to let team members unwind and connect outside of their high-pressure clinical roles.

    The festivities will reach their climax this coming Friday, with an official closing ceremony that will welcome KHMH’s Board of Directors and special invited guests, followed by an awards program to recognize outstanding employee contributions, and a friendly hospital-wide karaoke competition to cap off the week. KHMH Chief Executive Officer Sherine Reyes shared that the 31st anniversary was intentionally structured to center staff appreciation, after years of relentless work from every tier of the hospital’s team.

    “From the cleaning crew to the senior leadership team, every single person at KHMH works tirelessly to deliver care to our community,” Reyes explained. “All departments have stepped up to organize different parts of the celebration, and turnout for this morning’s opening church service was incredibly strong. It’s clear our staff are grateful to be recognized for the hard work and dedication they bring to this hospital every single day.”

    As the country’s primary referral hospital, KHMH has played an indispensable role in Belize’s public health infrastructure since opening its doors 31 years ago. This year’s celebration underscores the institution’s commitment to investing in its workforce, recognizing that consistent, high-quality patient care depends on supporting the people who deliver it.

  • Inheemse genezers uit Suriname, Guyana en Brazilië richten regionaal netwerk op

    Inheemse genezers uit Suriname, Guyana en Brazilië richten regionaal netwerk op

    Indigenous knowledge-holders and traditional healers from Suriname, Guyana, and Brazil have marked a historic milestone by establishing the Regional Network of Traditional Knowledge and Healers, a first-of-its-kind collaborative body aimed at securing greater formal recognition for Amazonian traditional medicinal plant knowledge and healing practices within national public health systems.

    The founding of the network took place during a four-day convening held from September 8 to 11, 2026, at Iwokrama River Lodge, located deep within Guyana’s protected Iwokrama Rainforest. Representatives of Indigenous communities from all three Amazon-bordering nations gathered to share ancestral expertise on traditional therapies, medicinal plant use, and culturally rooted health practices, building on two prior regional knowledge exchange events organized over the past four years. The gathering was coordinated by the Amazon Conservation Team Guianas (ACT Guianas), a Suriname-registered non-governmental organization that has partnered with Indigenous and tribal groups across the Guiana Shield since 2002 to support territorial stewardship and cultural preservation.

    Core objectives of the new network include creating a unified regional platform anchored in shared ethical protocols, clear communication frameworks, and a coordinated advocacy agenda to push for respectful recognition of traditional medicine by national governments and public health institutions. Beyond formal establishment, participants used the convening to share successful healing practices across bordering communities, reflect on lessons learned from prior collaborative efforts over the past four years, strengthen ethical and consistent standards for traditional healing across the region, and explore pathways toward formal integration of traditional practices into national healthcare systems.

    A central focus of the gathering was learning from Brazil’s decades-long policy framework for integrating Indigenous health into national care, a model that Suriname and Guyana are examining for potential adaptation. Brazil first enshrined a decentralized Indigenous Health Subsystem into its national Unified Health System (SUS) in 1999, structured around regional Indigenous health districts that require policy to center the unique local realities and cultural identities of Indigenous peoples, covering not only clinical care but also sanitation, food security, housing, environmental protection, and health education. Since 2006, Brazil has also maintained a national policy for integrative and complementary practices within SUS, which formally recognizes medicinal plant use and phytotherapy as valid care options. As of 2024, more than 23,000 Brazilian health teams offer these integrative practices across roughly 21,000 primary health care centers nationwide.

    The gathering opened with a sacred spiritual cleansing ritual led by Adele John, a young apprentice healer from Guyana’s Surama Village, setting a culturally rooted tone for the days of collaboration. Following opening ceremonies, participants engaged in immersive forest learning activities around the Iwokrama site and breakout working sessions to draft a three-year strategic roadmap for the new network. A key ceremonial highlight of the forum was the formal signing of the network’s founding charter by official representatives from all three participating countries.

    The Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development (IICRCD), which hosted the event at its river lodge facility, expressed full support for the initiative. “We are delighted to host the ACT team and Indigenous healers from across the region,” a center spokesperson said. “We endorse the establishment of this network and wish them every success in building an Indigenous knowledge platform for the region and advocating for the integration of Indigenous medicinal knowledge into national health systems.”

    ACT Guianas, which is headquartered in Paramaribo, coordinates conservation and cultural preservation initiatives across Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana, and northern Brazil, working directly with Indigenous communities to strengthen their capacity to manage and protect their ancestral territories.

    The launch of the new network aligns with a growing regional movement to center Indigenous traditional knowledge as a critical component of sustainable development and accessible, culturally appropriate healthcare. As early as August 2025, during the Fifth Presidential Summit of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO), Suriname highlighted the essential role of Indigenous and local community traditional knowledge in protecting the Amazon biome. In March 2025, Suriname hosted the national Traditional and Integrative Health Systems Conference, co-organized by Medische Zending Primary Health Care Suriname and ACT Guianas, where the Ministry of Public Health signed a memorandum of understanding with four partner organizations including ACT Guianas to advance collaboration on integrative health. By the end of 2024, Suriname’s National Assembly had already received a draft bill to establish a regulatory authority, OTIMSI, tasked with overseeing the development of traditional and integrative medical systems across the country.

  • Nurse Prevost urges healthier eating amid rising concerns over non-communicable diseases and cancer

    Nurse Prevost urges healthier eating amid rising concerns over non-communicable diseases and cancer

    Against a backdrop of escalating public health concerns over the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and cancer in the Dominican Republic, a leading national nursing figure has issued a clear call for citizens to prioritize balanced, nutritious dietary habits to reduce individual and systemic health risks.

    Priscilla Prevost, a family nurse practitioner who serves as president of the National Nurses Council, outlined her evidence-based dietary guidance during a public address on September 13, 2026. She stressed that consistent intake of nutrient-dense whole foods forms the foundation of long-term physical wellness, and that intentional dietary choices are a powerful, accessible tool for preventing chronic illness.

    Prevost broke down the core components of a balanced daily diet, noting that the body requires consistent intake of six key groups: carbohydrates, proteins, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. She specifically advised the public to cut back on consumption of simple carbohydrates, particularly added sugar and sugar-sweetened beverages, and increase intake of fiber-rich whole foods. She highlighted many locally grown staples as excellent fiber sources, including ground provisions, breadfruit, plantains, and green bananas, alongside a wide range of other fresh fruits.

    The nursing leader also offered clear guidance for making informed choices around protein and fat consumption. She outlined common animal-based protein sources including meat, fish, eggs, milk, and cheese, while emphasizing that plant-based options such as beans, peas, nuts, seeds, and soy products deliver high-quality protein with additional nutritional benefits. Prevost encouraged Dominicans to shift toward a more plant-forward eating pattern, limiting consumption of animal products to moderate portions rather than making them the center of every meal.

    She added that many essential healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals that the body needs to function optimally are readily available in local fresh produce grown across the Dominican Republic, making nutrient-dense eating accessible for most communities. As the country continues to grapple with the growing public health and economic burden of chronic illnesses and cancer, Prevost emphasized that adopting simple, sustainable healthy dietary practices can significantly strengthen individual long-term health outcomes.

    Prevost also drew attention to dietary risks that often arise at social events and communal gatherings, urging both hosts and guests to make more intentional choices. She called on event organizers to include a range of nutritious meal options, and advised attendees navigating buffet settings to prioritize balanced plates filled with vegetables, complex carbohydrates, and moderate portions of quality protein, rather than overindulging in meats, cheeses, and other foods high in saturated fat.

    Wrapping up her address, Prevost warned that repeated poor dietary choices do not only increase the risk of serious health complications such as high cholesterol — they also drive up individual and national medical expenses, placing unnecessary strain on households and the country’s healthcare system. She closed by reinforcing a core message: prevention and personal responsibility are critical to reducing the population-wide risk of NCDs and cancer, and meaningful progress starts with small, consistent healthier choices at every meal.

    “We could have done better by just making healthier food choices,” she said.

  • Guyana intensifies efforts to eliminate infectious diseases, strengthen health system

    Guyana intensifies efforts to eliminate infectious diseases, strengthen health system

    As Guyana charts a bold course to rid its population of multiple high-burden infectious diseases, the country is pursuing sweeping upgrades to laboratory infrastructure, healthcare workforce training, and national clinical quality standards, according to Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony.

    Dr. Anthony laid out these sweeping public health initiatives during opening remarks at the two-day *Strengthening Clinical Capacity for the Management of Advanced HIV Disease in Guyana* workshop, which convened September 14–15, 2026 in the Ministry of Health’s Brickdam boardroom. The gathering brings together healthcare providers to refine care protocols for one of the country’s priority public health concerns, while serving as a platform to announce broader system-wide improvements.

    Addressing attendees, the minister outlined targeted progress toward elimination for five key pathogens: lymphatic filariasis, leishmaniasis, leprosy, malaria, and hepatitis C. For lymphatic filariasis, Guyana is currently undergoing the final evaluation phases required for official international elimination certification, and Dr. Anthony shared that the country is closing in on that milestone. Work to scale up interventions for leishmaniasis and leprosy continues apace, while national malaria policy is undergoing a strategic shift from long-term outbreak control to full elimination, he added.

    One of the most notable breakthroughs has come in hepatitis C response, where the historically prohibitive cost of curative treatment created a major gap in care for diagnosed patients. For years, Guyanese health authorities could only identify hepatitis C cases during routine blood transfusion screening, with no viable path to connect patients to life-saving treatment. That barrier has now been removed through a collaborative partnership with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), which has secured access to treatment for less than $100 USD per patient. The minister noted that the policy focus now turns to building care linkage programs that ensure every diagnosed patient can access affordable, curative treatment.

    Beyond targeted disease elimination programs, Dr. Anthony outlined major capital investments in national public health infrastructure, most notably a new national reference laboratory currently under construction. The facility will be outfitted with cutting-edge molecular diagnostic technology, drastically expanding Guyana’s capacity for early disease detection and routine molecular surveillance of existing and emerging pathogens. “These investments will strengthen Guyana’s capacity to respond to emerging infectious diseases,” the minister said, adding that the upgraded lab could eventually serve as a regional reference hub for specialized disease testing. He emphasized that integrating new diagnostic technologies into routine care will be a core priority to speed up detection and response for all public health threats.

    Sustained investment in healthcare human resources is equally critical to building a resilient, high-performing health system, Dr. Anthony stressed. To that end, the government has secured new training and fellowship opportunities for Guyanese clinicians through international partnerships with leading academic and medical institutions across Brazil, the United States, Canada, India, and the United Kingdom. Participating institutions include Harvard University, Mount Sinai Health System, Northwell Hospital, McMaster University, and Apollo University, among other global collaborators. Additional flexible online training opportunities are also available through United Kingdom-based university programs, and the minister urged all practicing physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals to take advantage of these opportunities to build their skills and improve patient outcomes across the country.

    To raise the standard of clinical care across all national hospitals, the Ministry of Health is launching a new formal clinical quality governance initiative. Under the program, mobile review teams will conduct regular on-site audits of patient medical records to assess whether care aligns with evidence-based national clinical guidelines published by the Ministry. Where gaps in care or deviations from protocol are identified, the teams will work directly with local care teams to address deficiencies and update clinical practice. The long-term goal is to ensure all facilities consistently meet national care standards, with targeted follow-up action for facilities that fail to sustain adherence to protocols. The Ministry is also partnering with Joint Commission International (JCI) on a structured pathway program to help national hospitals meet international quality care standards.

    Throughout all these system-wide improvements, Dr. Anthony emphasized that patient-centered care must remain the core guiding principle. “Ultimately, the people that we should have in focus are our patients,” he said, noting that all upgrades to the health system are designed to deliver the best possible health outcomes for Guyanese communities.

    Taken together, the minister explained that the full portfolio of initiatives—from expanded HIV care capacity to improved disease surveillance, upgraded laboratory infrastructure, workforce training, and clinical quality governance—are designed to build a more resilient national health system capable of addressing both long-standing infectious disease priorities and new emerging health threats. He closed by urging workshop participants to bring the new knowledge and skills they gained back to their home facilities, a step that will advance the broader national goal of delivering high-quality care to all Guyanese and building the capacity to prevent, diagnose, treat, and ultimately eliminate the country’s priority infectious diseases.

  • Bernard on Cuba’s Historical Support for Belize: “We Are Very Grateful for That”

    Bernard on Cuba’s Historical Support for Belize: “We Are Very Grateful for That”

    As Belize’s cabinet prepares to make a final decision on the future of the Cuban medical brigade operating within its borders this September, the country’s Minister of Health and Wellness Kevin Bernard has opened up about the complex balancing act the government faces: reconciling Cuba’s decades-long historical support for Belize with shifting global diplomatic pressures and the nation’s modern domestic priorities.

    Speaking publicly on the issue, Bernard echoed the sentiments shared last week by former Belizean Prime Minister Said Musa, who emphasized that Cuba stood beside Belize during its fragile push for independence when most other nations remained on the sidelines. Bernard affirmed that this decades-long solidarity has left a lasting mark on bilateral ties between the two Caribbean nations. “Indeed, as the former Prime Minister did say, we have built a deep, enduring relationship with both the government and people of Cuba,” Bernard stated. “Through the most pivotal stage of our history, when Belize was working toward full sovereignty, they remained on our side. That support is something we will always be grateful for.”

    Yet despite this debt of gratitude, Bernard made clear that the government’s final call will center first and foremost on the current interests of Belize and its people. He acknowledged that whatever decision the cabinet reaches may not align with popular political opinion, but argued that pragmatic, forward-looking action is non-negotiable.

    “As a sovereign nation, we cannot allow historical ties to overshadow what is best for our citizens and our country today,” Bernard explained. “Tough choices are an inevitable part of governance, and this is one such moment. It may not win popular support in political circles, but given the current global geopolitical climate, we have to make tough, measured, realistic decisions that deliver tangible benefits to Belizeans. At the end of the day, protecting the welfare of our people is our core responsibility.”

    The decision comes amid mounting external diplomatic pressure, most notably from the United States, which has leveled unsubstantiated forced labor allegations against Cuban medical international missions. When asked about this pressure, Bernard noted that Belize is working to navigate the competing interests at play to find a sustainable middle ground.

    “We recognize and respect the position of the United States government, and we also value the support we have received from the U.S. and its people over the years,” Bernard said. “But the reality of our position is clear: we are caught between competing stances from global powers, and we have to steer this course with extreme care. Belize remains committed to finding a common ground solution that serves all our interests, and I believe we have already made significant progress toward that goal.”

    The cabinet is scheduled to deliver its final ruling on the status of the Cuban medical brigade before the end of September, marking a pivotal moment for Belize’s public health system and its diplomatic positioning.

  • Fate of 92 Cuban Medical Professionals Working in Belize Expected by Month’s End

    Fate of 92 Cuban Medical Professionals Working in Belize Expected by Month’s End

    In a public announcement made on the local program *Open Your Eyes*, Belize’s Minister of Health and Wellness Kevin Bernard has confirmed that a final decision on the continued employment of 92 Cuban medical professionals currently serving across the Central American nation will be reached by the close of September 2026.

    The Cuban medical brigade covers a wide spectrum of critical healthcare roles, ranging from tertiary-level specialists and general medical officers to diagnostic technicians, radiologists, and rural community nurses. Per Bernard’s breakdown, a small cohort of these specialists is based at the country’s main tertiary care hub, the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH), while the majority are deployed to underserved rural communities that have long struggled to attract domestic healthcare workers. The brigade also includes Belize’s only currently serving Cuban psychiatrist, filling a key gap in the country’s mental health services.

    Bernard emphasized that any departure of the Cuban professionals would place unprecedented additional strain on Belize’s already overstretched healthcare system, which is grappling with a persistent nationwide workforce shortage—a challenge the minister noted is not unique to Belize, but a global crisis hitting small developing nations particularly hard. Worldwide, wealthier countries actively poach trained medical personnel from lower-income states, leaving small nations like Belize unable to fill critical frontline and specialist roles.

    He highlighted the southern Toledo District as a stark example of how integral the Cuban medical staff are to local care delivery. Of the 16 doctors serving the district, fully half are Cuban nationals. For years, Belize has faced consistent difficulty recruiting local doctors to work in remote southern communities, and the Cuban professionals have stepped in to close that critical gap. Removing them from the system would immediately collapse access to routine and emergency care for thousands of rural residents, Bernard warned.

    Discussions around the future of the medical arrangement are being coordinated through Belize’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with Bernard confirming that early talks have been productive, even as he acknowledged he does not have access to all details of bilateral diplomatic negotiations. The Belizean health ministry has submitted detailed input on the country’s staffing needs, mapping the distribution of Cuban professionals and outlining the gaps that would open up across the country—particularly in rural southern regions—if the workers depart. Officials are currently restructuring the bilateral medical worker agreement, with the goal of wrapping up negotiations and resolving the status of the 92 professionals by the end of September. Bernard’s statement also directly refuted unsubstantiated earlier claims that the Cuban doctors were already set for imminent departure.