Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Government expressed its appreciation for the recent report published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on Wednesday. The report specifically highlights the Dominican Republic as one of the few nations that has successfully reduced food insecurity and malnutrition.

During a press conference held in the Green Room of the National Palace, the Minister of Agriculture, Limber Cruz, along with Fernando Durán, the administrator of Banco Agrícola, and Iván Hernández Guzmán, the executive director of the Price Stabilization Institute (INESPRE), shared this information with the public.

Cruz emphasized that the report indicates a decrease in the food insecurity indicator from 8.3% to 6.7% between 2019 and 2021. Furthermore, the current figure stands at 6.3%. Additionally, the population experiencing food insecurity decreased from 24% to 22% during the same period, demonstrating improved access to food for the population.

The Minister attributed these positive changes to the increased agricultural production, particularly in essential items like rice, chickens, eggs, bananas, fruits, and vegetables.

“These improvements are the direct result of the government’s support for the agricultural sector, which includes financing, land preparation, technical assistance, fertilizer subsidies, provision of planting materials, and distribution of agricultural equipment,” Cruz explained.

He also acknowledged the significant role played by public policies such as the Economic Kitchens, INESPRE, school meals, the Supérate card, gas bonus, and electricity bonus in achieving these positive outcomes.

Cruz expressed optimism about the future, stating, “This ongoing progress brings us closer each day to achieving the FAO’s goal of reducing hunger to 5%, thereby freeing the country from hunger.”

Furthermore, the Minister of Agriculture announced that the government has distributed 150 tractors with agricultural implements and planting materials across the country, leading to increased production in all agricultural sectors.

He highlighted a significant milestone, stating that the country has achieved rice self-sufficiency for the first time under this government, with over 1.5 million quintals of rice in surplus.

Regarding financing, Cruz mentioned that over 89 billion has been allocated to support the Dominican countryside, with 17 million provided at zero interest rates.

Santo Domingo.- The Ministry of Public Health in the Dominican Republic has stated that there is no proven evidence of fentanyl circulation in the country. The director of the Department of Mental Health, Alejandro Uribe, explained that institutions such as the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (Inacif), the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD), and the Comprehensive Care Center for Dependencies (Caidep) have not recorded any cases of fentanyl use or circulation.

Uribe emphasized that if these institutions have not detected any fentanyl cases through laboratory tests or typical symptoms, it indicates that the drug is not present. However, he acknowledged that fentanyl is a concern and emphasized the need for vigilance and a strategy to prevent its infiltration.

Mental Health is actively monitoring suspicious cases in emergency rooms, and efforts are being made to develop specific tests to detect fentanyl. Currently, tests are being sent to a laboratory in the United States to rule out false positive results for heroin. The cost of each test is $78, and negotiations are underway to facilitate the process and receive timely results.

Faced with a serious shortage of nurses in the public health system, President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday announced that government was turning to Cuba for an emergency supply of that category of health workers while Guyana accelerates the training of surplus nurses. “We are in discussion now, for example, with Cuba,” he said, adding that ...

The Caribbean Heart Institute’s (CHI) team led by CEO and Guyanese born heart surgeon Dr. Gary Stephens, successfully conducted an open-heart surgery utilising cow tissue to reconstruct a patient’s heart, the institution said Tuesday. “This procedure is the first-ever open heart surgery of its kind, to be performed in the country,” CHI added. CHI explained ...

Guyana is still awaiting a reply from the United States Department of Agriculture to several submissions aimed at having that North American country lift an almost six-year old ban on catfish, according to Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha. With Guyana having recently updated its previous submission, he said the Ministry of Agriculture was awaiting word from ...

Santo Domingo.- The director of the Central Logistics Support Essential Medicines Program (Promese Cal), Adolfo Pérez de León reported this Tuesday that it has been in the Government headed by President Luis Abinader where resources for the purchase of high-cost medicines have doubled.

During an interview in El Gobierno de la Mañana, the official added that said program has also tripled the number of patients who demand said medicines.

“The reality of the program is that it is being increased, in terms of patients and also strengthened in all its management capacity. It has been in this government of President Luis Abinader where the number of patients benefiting from the program has tripled and where the budget for the purchase of these drugs has doubled, ”he assured.

Adolfo Pérez explained that of some 5,729 active patients that the current administration found in 2020, there are currently more than 16,500 patients.

He affirmed that the high-cost drug program is well and supplied, for which a tender has been launched to continue the purchase of drugs for some 3,200 million pesos, to continue guaranteeing access to those in need.

The incumbent of Promese Cal stated that steps are being taken to integrate new patients into the program, and incidentally continue with the rate of help.

Every year, there are some 4,000 fatal drownings and 8,000 nonfatal drownings in the U.S., per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — and not all of them meet the textbook definition.

Even if a child appears to be "safe" after a water incident, the child could still be in danger if even a small amount of water has entered the lungs.

Unofficially known as "dry drowning," this condition can cause inflammation or swelling and make it difficult to breathe even after a child is out of the water, according to Dr. Denise Scott, a pediatrician who is co-founder of Oklahoma City’s first after-hours pediatric urgent care clinic. 

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"While ‘dry drowning’ is actually not a medical term or diagnosis, it does describe a condition that is a complication of a water event, termed ‘post-immersion syndrome,’" Scott told Fox News Digital.

"Post-immersion syndrome, considered a nonfatal drowning, describes an event in which a person was submersed in water but the lungs were not filled with water (thus dry)."

When this occurs, water has been inhaled — not swallowed — through the nose or mouth. 

"Water in the airways can lead to laryngospasm, or vocal cord spasm, making it difficult to breathe," explained Scott, who also works on the JustAnswer.com platform fielding questions about a wide variety of children’s health issues. 

"This makes it difficult to get air into the lungs."

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Post-immersion syndrome can occur after anyone has been in any body of water, whether it’s a lake, swimming pool, bathtub or hot tub.

"Technically, any drowning is the result of not getting air in the lungs, whether the lungs are wet or dry," Scott said. 

The most obvious sign of post-immersion syndrome is excessive or continuous coughing, Scott said.

"If someone inhales water, their response is to cough, which often expels the water," the doctor said. "The concern is when the cough continues after an episode of 30 to 60 minutes or longer."

Other warning signs that occur immediately after an episode or within an hour include difficulty breathing or speaking, rapid and hard breathing, chest pain, wheezing or vomiting.

Later symptoms, usually within two to three hours, can include confusion, sleepiness, and continued coughing and breathing difficulties, all of which can be signs of decreased oxygen, said Scott.

"A child who has either been rescued from water or inhaled water and has any of the above symptoms should be taken in for a medical evaluation," Scott said. "For any child who is not breathing, CPR should be given and 911 should be called."

A child with symptoms of post-immersion syndrome usually will be observed at the hospital for up to eight hours before the physician decides whether to pursue further treatment, Scott said.

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"Keeping a child calm can sometimes help the muscle spasms to relax," she added.

Although this condition is uncommon, it can be fatal if symptoms aren't addressed and lack of oxygen occurs, the doctor said. 

"A severe laryngospasm that isn't relieved ultimately can lead to lack of oxygen and cardiac arrest," she warned. "Long-term effects are the result of poor oxygen to any organ system, especially the brain, which can result in seizures or brain damage."

Drowning is the most common cause of unintentional death in children between ages 1 and 4 and the second leading cause of death in children between ages 5 and 14, per the CDC. 

Most drownings are preventable. 

"First and foremost, children should never swim unsupervised or alone," Scott said. 

"Young children who cannot swim should have an adult within arm's reach and wear a personal flotation device."

Private swimming pools should have a fence around them to prevent someone from wandering in, she went on. Children should always wear life vests when they're near or around lakes. 

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While it’s a good idea to have young children take swim lessons, Scott emphasized that it is not a safeguard, nor should it give a false sense of security or take the place of close adult supervision.

Parents also should learn CPR, she added.

While post-immersion syndrome can happen to someone at any age, children are at the greatest risk, Scott said.

"Adults and teens are more likely to be at risk if they go swimming after consuming alcohol, but anyone can accidentally inhale water when submersed," she said. 

"The vast majority of the time, this clears up with coughing. For persistent symptoms, one should seek medical care."

View the full post Joining hands to eliminate litter and Dengue fever on NOW Grenada.

The intensivist pulmonologist, Emil Jorge Manzur, said there are mild cases, and his main recommendation is that if a patient has a history of respiratory problems and other diseases, he should pay attention to him and not abandon his medication, especially when they present difficulty breathing.

Covid on the rise

“There are three, and be careful if more viruses are spread because we not only have Covid, which is already three weeks in the rise of cases; we have influenza, metaneumovirus, we have adenovirus, which are very frequent at this time, among others, without counting the bacterial infections that we commonly see,” expressed the respiratory tract specialist.

He explained that almost all these infections are symptomatic, and these symptoms must be treated.

“The patient should be concerned” whether or not they have difficulty breathing or if the symptoms last more than five days because there are specific things that can be done for each of these viruses or bacterial infections that could modify the disease,” added Jorge Manzur.

Do not self-medicate with antibiotics

Faced with the fact that many people say they are using the same medications prescribed to them when they tested positive for Covid-19 on previous occasions, the specialist does not rule it out completely, although without self-medicating with antibiotics.

He said most people used antiallergic and mucolytic and may do so now, as well as some expectorant syrups.

“What is wrong in the case is that they add antibiotic without knowing if it is bacterial, it is wrong that they use Ivermectin, because they are not used in any context” and other drugs they used in the first line.

As for vitamin and mineral supplements (such as vitamin D, zinc, melatonin, and others) indicated when Covid was at its highest peak, the physician understands that it is not wrong to use them either. However, there is nothing to prove that the impact of the disease will be less.

Avoiding contracting viruses collectively

The renowned pulmonologist calls to take care of oneself within the framework of the possible, to value avoiding exaggerated conglomerations of people without mask protection; if you have a respiratory symptom, you must protect “your neighbor” and use a mask.

“Again, it is a very individual issue because what we do not want is that everyone gets it at the same time,” indicated Jorge Manzur, who added that most people will contract one of these viruses, but we must take care of the most sensitive ones, to avoid a severe impact.

Do not be afraid

“We do not recommend that everyone should be afraid, but we must be aware that the problem is individual. Whether it is bad for you or not is your own problem,” the pulmonologist pointed out.

Dr. Jorge Manzur said that for Covid-19, there are currently some drugs, but he acknowledged that they are expensive, one of which costs more than 30,000 pesos.

View the full post EC$81.23 million Covid-19 related expenditure for 2020–2021 on NOW Grenada.