标签： Dominica

Dr. Natasha Maxime-Esprit, an endocrinologist with Dominica’s Ministry of Health, has issued a compelling call to action for citizens to take greater personal responsibility for their health. Speaking at the Dominica Diabetes Association Conference on November 14, 2025, in recognition of World Diabetes Day, Dr. Maxime-Esprit emphasized the critical role of individual accountability in combating diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Since joining the Ministry in 2022, she has been at the forefront of efforts to prevent, diagnose, and manage endocrine disorders, with diabetes accounting for 75% of her caseload. Each month, she consults with 200 to 300 patients across Dominica, ranging from a three-year-old with type 1 diabetes to a 93-year-old with type 2 diabetes. Dr. Maxime-Esprit underscored that diabetes does not discriminate by age or gender, affecting individuals across all demographics. Her presentation, titled ‘A Call to Personal Responsibility,’ highlighted the importance of knowing one’s health status and making proactive choices. She shared a poignant case of a 35-year-old woman who presented with blurry vision and severe headaches, only to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and hypertension. The patient, who had not undergone blood tests since age 18, had been unknowingly diabetic for at least three months, with lifestyle factors exacerbating her condition. Over the past five years, Dominica has recorded approximately 531 new cases of type 2 diabetes, with women constituting the majority and the youngest patient being just 15 years old. The Ministry of Health has ramped up its efforts against NCDs, expanding free specialized clinics, nutrition services, and screening programs. However, Dr. Maxime-Esprit stressed that medical interventions alone are insufficient. She identified unhealthy lifestyles, disregard for health when feeling well, and non-compliance with prescribed treatment as major contributors to diabetes complications, all of which hinge on individual choices. She urged citizens to take simple steps such as regular health checks, purchasing home monitoring devices, and setting aside funds for preventive care. The young woman in the case study is now responding well to treatment, having embraced lifestyle changes and medical guidance. Dr. Maxime-Esprit concluded with a hopeful message, affirming that diabetes is not a death sentence and can be managed with early detection and personal responsibility.

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is at the forefront of the global effort to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) during World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) 2025. AMR, often referred to as the ‘silent pandemic,’ poses a significant threat to public health, healthcare systems, and sustainable development worldwide. This phenomenon occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to resist the drugs designed to eliminate them, rendering infections increasingly difficult or impossible to treat. CARPHA’s participation in WAAW 2025, themed ‘Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future,’ underscores its commitment to promoting responsible antimicrobial use and advancing its Integrated AMR Programme. This initiative, supported by key partners including the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the Fleming Fund, and the Pandemic Fund Project, employs a multi-sectoral approach to enhance regional AMR surveillance, laboratory infrastructure, and coordinated responses. A cornerstone of CARPHA’s efforts is the Caribbean Antimicrobial Resistance Alliance (CARA), which serves as the technical and operational hub for AMR initiatives. CARA is establishing AMR reference laboratories in Trinidad, Jamaica, and Saint Lucia and developing a regional AMR surveillance system to improve data collection, reporting, and analysis. Additionally, CARPHA has prioritized expanding laboratory capacities in Jamaica and Saint Lucia, complementing its existing CARPHA Medical Microbiology Laboratory in Trinidad. These advancements enable faster pathogen detection, reduce diagnostic delays, and improve access to high-quality AMR testing. CARPHA has also focused on workforce development, hosting technical experts and organizing training workshops on phenotypic testing, molecular diagnostics, Whole Genome Sequencing, and AMR surveillance. With substantial funding from the Pandemic Fund and the Fleming Fund, CARPHA is enhancing laboratory upgrades, workforce training, and surveillance integration across the region. Dr. Lisa Indar, CARPHA’s Executive Director, emphasizes the urgency of collective action: ‘Antimicrobial resistance threatens the health and development of every Caribbean nation. Success requires the involvement of governments, healthcare providers, veterinarians, farmers, laboratories, and the public.’ CARPHA continues to expand its surveillance, testing capabilities, and One Health partnerships, urging all stakeholders to champion responsible antimicrobial use and support AMR prevention initiatives.