Guyana is awaiting results from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) to ascertain whether there has been an outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), the Health Ministry said on Wednesday. The ministry said the tests are to confirm that the pathogen is in Guyana. Sources said a school on ...

Santo Domingo.- By 2030, an estimated 68% of Dominican adults will have a high body mass index, with 32% living with obesity, according to the World Obesity Atlas 2025 report. Giselle Escaño, president of the Dominican Association for the Study of Obesity (Asodeo), emphasized the serious health challenges this poses, urging authorities to strengthen prevention policies. Key strategies include awareness campaigns, regulating sugary drinks, and promoting physical activity.

Dr. Luis Cruz highlighted economic barriers to healthy eating, stressing the need for education and accessible nutrition. Preventive health initiatives, such as the recent event at the Cruz Jiminián Clinic, aim to address obesity and related conditions like hypertension and diabetes. The operation included medical evaluations, nutritional counseling, and psychological support to promote a comprehensive approach to obesity prevention.

Government statistics show that 70.1% of Dominican adults were overweight or obese in 2021, with rising rates among children and adolescents, especially in private schools. Experts warn that obesity can lead to over 200 complications, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The initiative, supported by INABIE and World Television, is part of World Obesity Day efforts, expecting to assist 200–300 participants in improving their health.

PHARMACOLOGY IS fascinating because it bridges the gap between science and patient care. It is a dynamic field that constantly evolves with new drug discoveries, treatments, and advancements in medicine. Understanding how drugs interact with the...

In commemoration of International Women’s Day, Barbados TODAY highlighted women working in various fields – from health to telecoms, from development to politics – as they share their sources of success and triumph over challenges they have encountered. Here is an interview with Rachel DeGale, CEO of BioConnect Medical Centre, about her journey.

When it comes to women’s health, Rachel DeGale is comfortable with the taboo.

After spending nearly two decades in fertility health, Rachel is now the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of BioConnect Medical Centre, a game-changing health and wellness facility that focusses on holistic perimenopause and menopause treatments. Dr. Roberta Corona is the other co-founder and Medical Director.

“Any woman that has the privilege of aging is going to go through menopause. Some women are going to sail through it, and some women are going to really struggle, but at the end of the day, you don’t get a medal for slogging it through! You can’t make it to the finish line by not reaching out and getting help.”

To spend a minute with Rachel is to know she is dynamic, passionate and driven to do the best she can for their clients. So perhaps it was no surprise when she shared her own issues with reaching out for help during her ongoing battle with perimenopause.

The 47-year-old credits her turnaround to Dr. Corona’s support and treatment as well as working with the “best team ever.”
How does she think they would describe her as a leader? Firm, but fair.

“I have learned that how I lead apparently is quite unique. I don’t believe as women in leadership… that we have to be boisterous; we don’t have to be ‘little men’. I do believe that we can be authentically who we are as people. I remember my old boss used to say all that time that trust is earned, and she was absolutely correct in that you have to earn your team’s trust. How do you do that? You have their back, from the little details of knowing what’s happening in their life to the big things.”

Rachel believes accelerating action comes from education and awareness about women’s health at all stages and phases. And perhaps that is what allows you to be excited about what’s next.

“When people are talking about menopause they can come with a shroud of negativity, and it doesn’t have to be like that. There are solutions out there.”

This article appeared in the March 8 International Women’s Day Magazine by Barbados Today. View the magazine here.

The post Rachel DeGale: Innovating Healthcare at BioConnect Medical Centre appeared first on Barbados Today.

PAHO ultra-portable telehealth kit brings specialist primary healthcare services to remote communities in the Americas

Cristina Mitchell

18 Mar 2025

GFNC’s annual surveys of daycare children and biennial assessments of preschoolers help identify children who need support 

View the full post GFNC Survey Daycare and Pre-School results on NOW Grenada.

The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) says Guyana is careful not to offend the United States (US) over concerns that Cuban healthcare workers were being subjected to forced labour because of Washington’s unequivocal support against a Venezuelan invasion over the Essequibo Region. “Guyana faces a greater risk than other Caribbean territories of offending the US ...

President Irfaan Ali on Saturday announced that efforts were underway to get children to spend less time on their mobile phones and electronic devices and instead engage in more sports and physical activity to promote a healthier lifestyle. “Even if we have to put free WiFi in the park to get the children out of ...

OPEN LETTER
The Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, Q.C., M.P.
Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment
And
The Honourable Ryan R. Straughn, M.P.
Minister in the Ministry of Finance Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment

15 March, 2024

Dear The Honourable Mia Amor Mottley and The Honourable Ryan R. Straughn,

The Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) in partnership with our member organisation, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados and the Barbados Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition, extends its congratulations to the Government of Barbados for its bold decision to implement a 20 percent excise tax on snacks high in salt and to remove import duties and VAT on selected fruits and vegetables, effective June 1st, 2025.

The Caribbean has the highest noncommunicable disease (NCD) mortality rate in the Americas, with 40 percent of these deaths occurring prematurely before the age of 70. This disproportionately affects the most productive members of society, leading to severe socioeconomic consequences, particularly as aging populations place increasing strain on already vulnerable economies. According to data from the Health of the Nation Survey (2011), 41 percent of Barbadian adults aged 25 and older are diagnosed with high blood pressure and more than half of all men and women above the age of 45 were hypertensive.

The introduction of the excise tax on snacks with high salt content is a proactive measure aimed at reducing the consumption of unhealthy, ultra-processed products high in salt, sugar and fat, while the removal of taxes on fruits and vegetables will improve affordability and accessibility to healthier dietary options for all citizens. We are also encouraged by the Government of Barbados’ additional commitment of $1 million each year to support public education on NCDs. These interventions, which form a broader strategy to tackle the pressing health and economic impacts of obesity and NCDs in Barbados, complement the 20 percent tax on sugar-sweetened beverages and the National School Nutrition Policy, These policy measures align with the Declaration of Mission Barbados, which sets a target of achieving a 50 percent reduction in new cases of NCDs. Additionally they reflect the government’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal 3.4, which aims to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one-third by 2030.

As we build on the progress of the 2007 Port-of-Spain Declaration and look ahead to the Fourth United Nations High-Level Meeting (HLM4) on NCDs in September, strong leadership remains essential in reducing the NCD burden and improving the quality of life for those affected. We trust that the Government of Barbados will continue to demonstrate strong leadership and serve as a model for CARICOM by prioritizing the implementation of cost-effective high-impact interventions outlined in the WHO Best Buys and other evidence-based strategies for NCD prevention.

Signed 

The President and Board of Directors of the Healthy Caribbean Coalition

The post Open Letter to The Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, Q.C., M.P. appeared first on Healthy Caribbean Coalition.