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STATEN ISLAND, New York City (WABC) — It’s been three long months of surgeries, skin grafts, physical rehabilitation, and grief counseling. But Monday, three months to the day of a fatal fire that claimed the lives of 20 students in a girl’s dormitory in Guyana, the most critically burned patient will be discharged. Mariza Williams was ...

Santo Domingo.- The Ministry of Public Health (MSP) has taken proactive steps by activating its National Contingency Plan to mitigate the potential impact of tropical storm Franklin, anticipated for Tuesday, August 22, as forecasted by the National Meteorological Office (ONAMET).

Leading a coordination meeting with vice ministers and directors of the institution, Minister of Health, Dr. Daniel Rivera, instructed the Rapid Response Teams to initiate actions in line with the “Assessment of Damages and Analysis of Health Needs in Emergency Situations (EDAN-Salud).” This collaboration takes place in coordination with the Emergency Operations Center (COE).

Dr. Rivera emphasized the paramount importance of safeguarding the public’s health. He urged all personnel to be ready to respond to any emerging emergency situations arising from the impending weather phenomenon, as indicated by meteorological predictions. Preventing disease transmission is crucial, as episodes such as diarrhea, dengue fever, malaria, and other ailments tend to escalate during hurricane season and heavy rainfall periods. The implementation of effective health measures can mitigate the potential consequences.

Dr. Gina Estrella, Director of Risk Management and Disaster Care, noted that the Ministry of Health has been in a continuous session due to the looming threat of the storm. This state of readiness extends to both headquarters and Provincial Directorates and Health Areas. Dr. Estrella called upon local authorities to take appropriate actions to ensure the well-being and safety of residents in their jurisdictions. Special attention is given to provinces under alert, particularly Pedernales and Dajabón, where the storm’s impact is expected to be most pronounced.

Assured provision of medicines, supplies, and necessary resources is a priority for the Ministry to effectively assist those in need during the crisis.

Key actions include:

– Activation of the COE-Health in a continuous session.
– Ongoing monitoring from the Situation Room of the Directorate of Risk Management and Disaster Assistance.
– Activation of Provincial Health Committees, integration of Provincial and Municipal COEs, and response plan activation for hospitals in respective jurisdictions.
– Evaluation of temporary shelters identified by Civil Defense for authorization.
– Inventory of available resources for response needs.
– Activation of local rapid response teams.

The Ministry of Health underscores the importance of preventive measures during the rainy season. In particular, increased occurrences of acute respiratory diseases, epidemics, and the potential spread of diseases like dengue, leptospirosis, acute diarrheal disease, Covid-19, and others. Precautionary steps include practicing permanent hand washing, ensuring the safety of drinking water, maintaining hygienic practices for food and utensils, using tissues when sneezing, protecting vulnerable groups, and being equipped with necessary medications.

The Emergency Operations Center has placed the entire country under alert. The southern coast is on red alert, the central region and extreme east are on yellow alert, and the north and northeast coasts are on green alert. The forecast anticipates heavy rainfall across the nation due to the direct impact of the storm.

Santo Domingo.- Elías Matos, a deputy representing Constituency One of the National District for the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), highlighted on Monday that the Dominican Government has initiated the process of acquiring the land previously occupied by the Maharishi school. This land is being considered for the construction of a much-needed major hospital, especially in the southern region of the capital.

Matos specified that he has been advocating for the establishment of a large hospital to serve the sectors in the southern part of Constituency One and the entire National District since September 2020.

“We have received information that the Dominican Government has begun the necessary steps to acquire the land of the old Maharishi College,” stated the legislator. He also mentioned that the premises encompass an area of over 50,000 square meters, which could be repurposed for this purpose.

The legislator, who aligns with the ruling party, emphasized his commitment to the concept of creating a comprehensive hospital in Constituency One. He envisioned a hospital with specialized units such as geriatrics, pediatrics, traumatology, and a burn unit, among other healthcare specialties.

Matos expressed confidence that the Dominican Government will heed the voices of the citizens who are eager for a high-quality and accessible healthcare service. He noted that the hospital’s strategic location would help alleviate congestion in other healthcare centers and expedite assistance from the National Emergency and Security System 9-1-1.

Elías Matos acknowledged President Luis Abinader’s responsiveness to the needs of the people and expressed optimism that an official announcement regarding the construction of the major hospital in the southern part of the National District will be forthcoming in the upcoming days.

It is worth noting that on September 18, 2020, Deputy Elías Matos, representing Constituency One of the National District for the Modern Revolutionary Party, submitted a draft resolution through the General Legislative Secretariat of the Chamber of Deputies. In the resolution, he urged President Luis Abinader to consider the construction of a general hospital in the Miramar sector, located at kilometer 8 of Independencia Avenue.

In his address, the deputy highlighted that the population in the sectors of the National District exceeds 315,000 people, with a population density approaching 8,000 inhabitants per square kilometer. He emphasized the need for a general hospital in this area to alleviate pressure on other healthcare centers in the city, particularly within the coastal strip between the 30 de Mayo highway and the Sánchez highway, which accommodates around 200,000 residents.

They stated that during the 6th International Congress on Health Tourism, a private investment breakfast will be held in conjunction with the financial sector. New ventures in this booming niche market will be presented, providing the country with thousands of jobs and innovative medical technologies and services.

Cambiaso said that the congress will be held on November 1 and 2 of this year at the JW Marriott Hotel in Santo Domingo and will feature multiple innovations and business opportunities, highlighting, above all, the talent of the Dominican medical class and its achievements, according to the program Esta Noche Mariasela.

Amelia Reyes Mora said the event will be a meeting point for multi-sector leaders. The country will be projected as a health and investment destination, promoting international accreditations and the projection of Dominican medicine.

It is noted that the DR is the leading destination for medical tourism in the Caribbean, number 2 in Latin America, and number 19 in the world, according to the Medical Tourism Index.

(CMC) – The Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) says regional countries need to take adequate steps to prevent the trans-boundary spread of infectious diseases, describing it as a threat to regional and global health security.

CARPHA held a two-day conference in Trinidad and Tobago last week to discuss the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health concerns, reiterating the necessity for regional and global health security to protect and improve health.

It said that Regional Health Security (RHS) encompasses the capacities required for the Caribbean to prepare for and respond to public health threats, risks, priority issues and concerns that transcend national boundaries and potentially impact on economic stability, trade, tourism, and access to goods and services in the region.

“RHS offers a coordinated approach which is especially crucial in the Caribbean as the region, like the Pacific and African small island developing states, is characterised by small, under-resourced populations and varying surveillance, laboratory and human resource capacities,” CARPHA said.

“It is also highly interconnected with porous borders, heavily reliant on tourism, and susceptible to climate change and disasters.”

The agency noted that this combination of factors significantly increases the region’s exposure and vulnerability to disease spread, enabling rapid spread of highly transmissible communicable diseases.

Furthermore, the tropical climate, and abundance of competent vectors make the region particularly vulnerable to vector-borne disease outbreaks.

“Consequently, regional health security and prevention, preparedness and response to public health emergencies need to be improved not only at the national levels, but at the regional level, as functional regional capacities are greater than the sum of the capacities of individual countries for improving RHS in the Caribbean,” CARPHA said.

“The major outcomes of this meeting include the detailing and prioritisation of member states’ current needs, increased awareness of CARPHA’s integrated surveillance and capacity building work and strengthening partnerships. These elements will assist in developing the sustainable RHS Pathway in short order.”

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Santo Domingo.- On National Doctor’s Day, Maria Argentina Germán, the director of Hospital Doctor Francisco Moscoso Puello, extended her congratulations to doctors, particularly those within the center, for their dedicated work and commitment to ongoing training.

Representing the Moscoso Puello Hospital management alongside Deputy Director Dr. Ydalma Santos and Administrator Mr. Jesús Polanco, Dr. Germán encouraged doctors to continue delivering quality, compassionate, and empathetic care.

Geraldine Mir, in charge of the Internal Medicine service, highlighted this day as an occasion to recognize and honor the efforts of healthcare professionals who approach each day with determination, optimism, responsibility, and dedication to providing health to those in need.

Dr. Mir emphasized that doctors should maintain emotional stability and consistent health. She advised aspiring medical students to forge strong patient relationships and emphasized that while medicine requires sacrifices, pursuing the field with passion, humility, and simplicity can lead to success.

This commemoration serves as a fitting tribute to doctors, who dedicate themselves to ensuring citizens’ health and well-being.

The call is for doctors to uphold the ethical principles of medicine, focusing on humanized care to secure citizens’ right to health.

Dominican Doctor’s Day, celebrated every August 18, marks the founding of the Dominican Medical Association, later known as the Dominican Medical College (CMD).

The hospital’s doctors cover various departments, including allergology, pathology, anesthesiology, comprehensive care, cardiology, general surgery, cancer surgery, reconstructive surgery, thoracic surgery, vascular surgery, coloproctology, dermatology, diabetology, emergency, and endocrinology. The list extends to epidemiology, gastroenterology, geriatrics, gynecology, hematology, imaging, infectious diseases, internal medicine, nephrology, pulmonology, neurosurgery, neurology, clinical nutrition, dentistry, ophthalmology, clinical oncology, orthopedics, otorhinolaryngology, pediatrics, psychology, psychiatry, rheumatology, urology, and various specialized units.

Santo Domingo.- Santiago Hazim, the Executive Director of the National Health Insurance (Senasa), has confidently declared that the Dominican Republic boasts the most outstanding healthcare system across Latin America and even extends its influence into parts of North America.

This assertion is firmly grounded in the nation’s achievement of universalizing its healthcare system. Notably, the country’s coverage encompasses expenses up to two million pesos for an array of ailments, treatments, and essential medical procedures.

In a recent interview on the Despierta program with CDN, Hazim bolstered his claim by highlighting the extraordinary scope provided by the Dominican health system. He emphasized that this coverage extends to high-cost illnesses like cancer, organ transplants, chemotherapy, intricate surgeries, and neurosurgery.

Furthermore, this comprehensive coverage has yielded tranquility for patients, assuring them protection against various medical conditions, encompassing dialysis and other pathologies. This level of security, Hazim emphasized, is even absent in the United States.

Hazim contrasted the Dominican and American healthcare systems, revealing that in the United States, patients often grapple with substantial hurdles involving costs and prolonged waiting periods for medical care. Conversely, the Dominican health system ensures prompt and accessible care.

Dr. Hazim acknowledged that despite these commendable strides, the Dominican healthcare system still contends with deficiencies. Specifically, he mentioned the need to enhance imaging capabilities, such as X-ray equipment, 3D CT scans, and MRIs. He attributed these shortcomings to a cultural inclination and proximity to the United States, which fosters familiarity with cutting-edge medical technologies and advancements.

He further illustrated the situation, stating that the capacity for expanded coverage requires deliberation. Senasa, for instance, cannot unilaterally decide to cover laparoscopic surgery; an actuarial study by Sisalril (Superintendence of Health and Occupational Risks) is imperative to ascertain the frequency of such surgeries in the country, their costs at different facilities, and subsequently determine an average allocation for each ARS.

In closing, Hazim underlined the paramount importance of upholding the stability of social security and the healthcare system within the nation.

Attach a Leg Grenada charges amputees seeking below-the-knee prostheses EC$3,000 while amputees seeking above-the-knee prostheses will be charged EC$4,500

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