Santo Domingo—Nurses at the Santo Domingo Health Center say that the population is heeding the call of Public Health and regularly coming to get vaccinated against influenza, polio, and human papillomavirus (HPV).

The nurses explained that the flu vaccine is one of the most requested by users, both adults and children, especially during the seasons when flu cases tend to increase.

On the other hand, the person in charge of the vaccines area, Alvin Johnson, highlighted the availability of the HPV vaccine, which will be used as a preventive method for boys between the ages of 9 and 14 as well as girls.

In the case of polio, Jonhson emphasized that unlike the flu and HPV vaccines, it is a compulsory vaccine given to children from two months of age, and the schedule is completed by age four.

In the same vein, the manager pointed out that, given the center’s activity and high demand for offering vaccination services free of charge, they currently have a sufficient supply of vaccines to attend to the entire population that wishes to come.

“The country and the center do have the necessary and sufficient vaccines to vaccinate the population,” said Johnson.

On the 13 March, 2025 in commemoration of World Obesity Day and under the theme “Changing Systems, Healthier Lives”, the HCC hosted a webinar, “Changing Systems, Healthier Lives: The Caribbean Road to UN High Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health” attended by over 150 people it covered the following:

• it outlined key advocacy priorities for Caribbean countries in preparation for the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs.
• it presented examples of ongoing efforts and success stories in NCD prevention, control, and advocacy within the Caribbean region, highlighting potential progress or setbacks if advocacy priorities are not addressed.
• it explored how attendees can amplify the Regional Advocacy Priorities through their local, regional and global work.

Useful resources:

• Conflict of Interest in Policymaking for Non-communicable Diseases a Primer for Public Sector Policymakers in the Caribbean
• Safeguarding Public Health Nutrition in the Caribbean During Emergencies: Guidelines for Managing Donations from the Commercial Sector
• GCHA’s Latin America Caribbean Network is one of those spaces where we can begin strategizing and collaborating around climate change and health. Become a member:
• WHO Best Buys

Presenters

The post Webinar: Changing Systems, Healthier Lives appeared first on Healthy Caribbean Coalition.

View the full post Government provided over EC$4 million subvention to NGO on NOW Grenada.

Trisha Tannis, president of the Barbados Private Sector Association, has challenged the government to rethink its strategy on healthy eating, arguing that the latest measure to curb non-communicable diseases –  a ‘sodium tax’ on salty snacks – is insufficient without making nutritious alternatives more affordable for low-income families.

“As much as I support the thrust to reduce NCDs—and it is a must—the government has been congratulated for putting that in the crosshairs,” Tannis said. “But I would like to see an equal amount of strategy and emphasis on reducing the cost of healthy foods because when mothers, particularly in the vulnerable economic population, go into the supermarket, they are not making a nutritional choice. They are making an economic choice.”

Her comments come in response to the government’s latest budget proposal, which introduces new taxes on salted snacks such as potato chips and corn curls in an effort to discourage unhealthy eating habits. Tannis argued that this approach remains “ad hoc” and does not provide struggling families with viable alternatives.

“You simply give that woman an impossible decision to make,” she said, further noting the financial strain that many shoppers face when trying to prioritise nutrition over affordability. 

Tannis stressed the need for a targeted strategy that ensures a significant price reduction on essential fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious foods, suggesting that, just as unhealthy products are being taxed, healthier options should be deliberately made cheaper to empower households to make better dietary choices.

“We need a strategy that says you can pay extra for the bad things, and you can pay less for the good things,” she said. “Essentially, we need to empower households and women who are shopping for their children to make it easy to pick up the healthy things.” 

(SM)

The post BPSA: Make healthy food affordable instead of taxing snacks appeared first on Barbados Today.

WITH THE upcoming carnival seasons in Trinidad and Jamaica approaching, revellers are already planning not just their costumes and fêtes, but also their recovery strategies. Many are turning to intravenous (IV) therapy as a medical solution to...

Cuba continues to be a trustworthy friend and partner not only of Grenada, not only of the Caribbean but of people the world over

View the full post Grenada has legal and moral obligation to stand with Cuba on NOW Grenada.

The 2025 National Nutrition Quiz will be held on 10 April for primary schools and 29 April for secondary schools

View the full post GFNC 2025 National Nutrition Quiz (Part 1) on NOW Grenada.

Santo Domingo — During the presentation “Diagnosis of Family Health Insurance (SFS) in the Dominican Republic”, Dr. Pedro Ramírez Slaibe explained that 97% of the Dominican population is affiliated to a health regime, either contributory or subsidized.

Currently, 54% of Dominicans are registered under the subsidized regime (5,718,718 people), 45% under the contributory regime (4,704,115 citizens), and the remaining 1% (93,616 people) under the pension modality.

The specialist in Family Medicine made a historical account in which he stressed that Family Health Insurance was created to guarantee universal coverage of health services without exclusions. This includes promotion and prevention, patient rehabilitation, and coverage during pregnancy and postpartum.

It also gives the member the freedom to choose their Health Risk Manager (ARS) and the service provider where they will receive care.

In the event of loss of employment, the patient enjoys all the benefits for 60 days, and after these, his condition will be seen if he continues in the contributory regime or goes to the subsidized regime, where the unemployed and their families, people with disabilities, and those in a situation of destitution receive care.

According to Ramírez Slaibe, this is protected by Article 129 of Law 87-01 on Social Security, which establishes that all citizens have access to a Basic Health Plan, regardless of their social, labor, or economic status and the financial regime to which they belong.

Family Health Insurance came into operation in the Dominican Republic in 2002, and the contributory regime in 2007. Between 2020 and 2021, affiliation with the subsidized regime accelerated, incorporating more than two million people into Social Security, “going from 85% to 97% of the affiliated population we have today,” he said.

The system has 10,516,449 affiliates, and collections rose from 58,565,404,586.57 in its origins to 101,485,179,143.17 in 2024, practically doubling.

“The FSS has made significant progress in terms of health coverage and access in the Dominican Republic, but it continues to face significant challenges in equity, financing and quality of services,” he said.

The population of 46 to 60 years of age grows

According to the doctor, one aspect that is worrying is how age groups have been changing over the years. Today, there is a growth in the population between 46 and 60 years old, which, although it continues to contribute and be productive, is the next to move to the pension system.

“This situation leads to the need to rethink the redefinition of per capita,” he said.

Out-of-pocket expense

Regarding out-of-pocket spending, the director general of the Center for Research and Studies in Health Management explained that despite the fact that it was calculated at 61.24% in 2004 and at 42.2% in 2020, “the reduction has not been so significant,” taking into account inflationary rates.

He pointed out that the most frequent expenses are medicines, uncovered procedures, and co-payments.

Proposals and reforms

Ramírez Slaibe concluded his presentation, which was part of the workshop on Social Security and Health organized by the Social Security for All Foundation (FSSPT), by proposing proposals and reforms for the common welfare.

“The gap between the original design and the current reality reflects the need for profound reforms to ensure the sustainability of the system and guarantee the right to health of the entire population,” he said.

As a possible solution, he proposes reforming the Basic Health Plan, expanding coverage of essential medicines and high-cost treatments, strengthening primary care, and incorporating mental health and rehabilitation services.

Similarly, review the sources of financing of the Basic Plan, implementing the contributory-subsidized regime, which allows informal or unemployed collaborators to continue contributing. It also proposes to establish better cost control mechanisms.

The doctor requested that the network of providers be redesigned and more efficient referral mechanisms implemented, thus guaranteeing greater equitable access to health centers.

Finally, Ramírez Slaibe understands that, to achieve these objectives, a dialogue between the State, the actors of the health system, and civil society is necessary to build a “more efficient, equitable and sustainable” system.

President Irfaan Ali announced that a system was being put in place for mothers to receive the GY$100,00 cash grant within one week of giving birth before they leave hospital. He told mothers at the launch of the initiative that officials of the Ministry of Finance and Regional Health Officers would be collaborating to ensure ...