标签： Dominica

In Dominica, diabetes affects approximately 18% of females and 14% of males, highlighting a significant public health challenge. Recent insights suggest that nutritional cannabis—consumed in its raw form, including sprouts or microgreens—offers profound biochemical support to the Endogenous Cannabinoid System (ECS). Present in every living cell, the ECS plays a pivotal role in regulating the Endocrine, Paracrine, Autocrine, and Intracrine systems, which govern bodily functions at cellular, tissue, and systemic levels. This discovery has sparked interest in cannabis as a potential adjunct in diabetes management. Diabetes manifests in various forms: Type 1, where the immune system attacks pancreatic Islets of Langerhans; Type 2, characterized by insulin resistance and organ damage; Type 3, linked to Alzheimer’s disease due to brain insulin resistance; and Type 3c, resulting from pancreatic damage. Historically, the immune system was believed to protect the body from self-attack, but research has since identified autoimmune disorders, coining the term ‘Auto toxicus Horribliis.’ Raw cannabis, rich in medicinal acidic cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, supports physiological regulation. However, drying or heating cannabis diminishes its biochemical efficacy. To enhance palatability, raw cannabis is often soaked and blended with fruits or vegetables, making it a viable dietary addition for diabetes management. This innovative approach, championed by Dr. William Courtney and Marcia Moulon, Esq., underscores the potential of nutritional cannabis in addressing diabetes and related conditions.

In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s devastating impact on Jamaica, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has activated its Incident Management Team – Emergency Response protocol. This initiative, coordinated through the Regional Response Mechanism under the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), aims to address the immediate and long-term health needs of the affected population. CARPHA, as the region’s leading public health authority, is focusing on rapid health assessments, disease surveillance, and outbreak prevention to guide recovery strategies.

The response effort is part of a broader, multidisciplinary assessment conducted by the CDEMA-led Rapid Needs Assessment Team (RNAT), which includes experts from various regional and international organizations. These include the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU), Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), among others. Field assessments were carried out from November 1 to 5, 2025, in regions such as Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth, and St. Ann, to evaluate health infrastructure and coordinate relief efforts.

CARPHA’s technical support has prioritized several critical areas, including rapid health sector assessments, disease surveillance, and public health risk mitigation. The agency has reported extensive damage to health facilities, including the Black River Hospital in St. Elizabeth and the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital in Westmoreland, which has severely disrupted healthcare delivery and disease surveillance.

Dr. Horace Cox, CARPHA’s Incident Commander, highlighted the increased risk of disease outbreaks such as gastroenteritis, dengue, and leptospirosis due to compromised water and sanitation systems. He emphasized the importance of community engagement in water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH), and vector control to mitigate these risks. CARPHA plans to conduct follow-up assessments in St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, and Trelawny to monitor progress and provide ongoing support.

The agency is also preparing a second shipment of essential health supplies to Jamaica and will continue its collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness to deliver targeted technical assistance. This effort is financially supported by the Caribbean Development Fund (CDF), reflecting a collective commitment to resilient health systems and disaster preparedness in the Caribbean.

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.